The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has attributed the significant performance drop in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination to the newly implemented anti-malpractice measures.
While announcing the result at a press briefing in Lagos, the Head of WAEC National Office, Dr Amos Dangut, revealed that 38.32 per cent of the 1,969,313 candidates who sat for the examination obtained credits and above in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
Dangut said the outcome indicated a sharp decline of 33.8 percent compared to the 72.12 per cent recorded in the 2024 WASSCE, which he said followed the introduction of stricter examination protocols designed to curb malpractice.
“The drop in performance can be attributed to new anti-malpractice measures, including the serialisation of objective papers in key subjects, which made collusion and cheating more difficult,” he said.
According to him, a total of 1,517,517 results, representing 77.06 per cent, were fully processed and released, while 451,796 results, accounting for 22.94 per cent, are still being processed due to technical or administrative issues.
The WAEC boss added that the results of 192,089 candidates, amounting to 9.75 per cent, are being withheld over alleged involvement in various forms of examination malpractice—a reduction from the 11.92 per cent recorded in 2024.
He further explained that a total of 12,178 candidates with special needs sat for the examination including visually impaired, hearing-impaired, physically and mentally challenged students, whose results were also processed along with others.
Dangut revealed that in line with the directive of the Federal Government, WAEC plans to fully transition to Computer-Based Testing for the WASSCE by 2026, noting that the Council is concluding arrangements for the total conduct of Computer-Based WASSCE for School Candidates in 2026.
He also warned that candidates sponsored by state governments owing the Council would be unable to access their results until the debts were cleared, appealing to concerned state governments to settle their debts so that affected candidates are not denied access to their results.
While indicating the Council's committment to improving access, security, and transparency in its examination processes, Dangut pointed that it's goal is to make examinations more accessible, credible, and transparent, urging all stakeholders to join the drive for a digital future.