WASSCE results: Only 38.32% of candidates passed English, Maths

*It shows system’s failure — NUT *Papers written under terrible condition — NANS *Many factors responsible — NAPTAN

THE West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, results were released yesterday, with only 38.32% of candidates passing English and mathematics.

•While 1,969,313 candidates sat for the examination, only 754,545 candidates passed the two key papers at credit level.

In the 2024 WASSCE, 72.12% of candidates obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. 

This year’s results showed a significant decline in performance, with only 38.32% of candidates achieving the same feat.

Meanwhile, a total of 1,973,365 candidates from 23,554 recognised secondary schools across Nigeria registered for the major examination. 

•Of these, 1,969,313 candidates actually sat for the examination. 

•Notably, the examination was not limited to Nigeria, as candidates from schools in Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, and Equatorial Guinea, where the Nigerian curriculum is used, also participated.

Speaking at a briefing in Lagos, the Head of Nigeria National Office, West African Examinations Council, WAEC,   Dr Amos Dangut, stated that the council withheld the results of 192,089 candidates, representing 9.75% of the total number of candidates who sat for the WASSCE for various cases of examination malpractice.

Dangut explained that in comparison with the previous year’s results, there was a 33.8% decrease in performance. 

In the 2024 WASSCE, 72.12% of candidates obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. This year’s results showed a significant decline in performance, with only 38.32% of candidates achieving the same feat.

Breakdown of results

Of the 754,545 who had five subjects, including English and mathematics, 347,192 (46.01%) were male candidates, while 407,353 (53.99%) were females.  

Also, the results of 192,089 candidates, representing 9.75% of the total number of candidates who sat for the examination were withheld due to various reported cases of examination malpractice.

According to Dangut, the results were withheld due to increased use of cell phones in the examination hall, despite existing ban; and organised cheating in some schools, among others.  

He said:  “All cases are being investigated and reports will be presented to the appropriate Committee of the Council for consideration and final decisions; Affected candidates will be communicated through their various schools; and candidates can now call for redress of their malpractice cases if they so wish.’’

Candidates are to access processed results within 12 hours  

The WAEC boss also said:   “WASSCE for School Candidates 2025 results are being uploaded on the results website. Candidates should, after checking the result online, apply for their Digital certificate, which will be released 48 hours thereafter. 

‘’Candidates who have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Council can access their results on the Council’s results website: www.waecdirect.org, within the next twelve hours. Copies of the Result Listing will be sent to schools shortly.    

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the education sector have reacted to the poor performance of candidates in the examination.  

They include the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS and the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN.

It shows system failure - NUT

Chairman of Lagos State wing of the NUT, Comrade Akintoye Hassan, noted that the development boiled down to system’s failure.

“Let us first take a look at the condition under which some of the candidates sat for some of the papers, especially the English Language paper. The council said it discovered that the paper leaked and instead of cancelling it, went ahead to let students write it at odd hours. 

‘’The students who had conditioned their minds to write the paper in the morning, were delayed till evening and even night in some cases. They were not allowed to go out. May be some of them did not eat even at that point in time.

“When the paper was to be written finally, in most cases, the students did so using phone torchlight   and other embarrassing sources of light because most of the schools have no power supply sources. Does it mean schools don’t deserve to be provided with electricity even if they are not residential? Is electricity not one of the things to aid learning?

“Our challenge is not what we are experiencing now, but what we ought to do in the past that we have failed to do. Now, some people would want to heap the whole blame on the teachers. Apart from the above, which can not be the sole factor for the development, so many other factors are responsible too.  

“Our young ones too don’t take the issue of education seriously again. When they see those who go to school and are certificated doing menial jobs to eke a living. Some students only want to be literate and forget about one big certificate,” he stated.

Papers written under terrible condition - NANS

The National Public Relations Officer of NANS, Comrade Adeyemi Samson Ajasa, said the condition under which the candidates wrote some papers, especially English Language, was terrible.

“What do you expect? The conduct of the exam in some instances left much to be desired. Look at the day they wrote the English Language paper, it was horrific. Candidates were drained emotionally and were tired. 

‘’But a lot of other factors also contributed. The technical hitches in the exam were what some candidates also experienced during the UTME.

“There is need to take a holistic look at the education sector and redress the situation. Teachers must be motivated. More of them should be employed and trained to impart the needed knowledge on the students. Also, what about facilities too in our schools. We are pleading with the government to please pay priority attention to the education sector,* he said.

Many factors responsible - NAPTAN

The National President of NAPTAN, Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, noted that a combination of factors was responsible for the abysmal performance.

“One may say the level of examination malpractice has gone down. But that is just one of the factors. Do we have the teachers that can deliver what is needed in the required number? Many states have refused to engage new teachers to fill vacancies. 

•‘’Also, some parents cannot afford to buy the necessary textbooks for their wards and children. The prices have gone out of reach.

“We need to also equip our schools properly. Teachers welfare is also critical. When a teacher is thinking of what to eat and how to meet basic needs, how can he give the best to the students? Parents also have to take more interest in the education of their children,” he said.