Thousands of Nigerian students and parents are demanding an immediate review and remark of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) English Language paper following a historic failure rate and widespread allegations of negligence by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
TJ News Nigeria reports that the controversy erupted after only 38.32% of candidates who sat for the 2025 WASSCE obtained credits in both English Language and Mathematics, marking the worst WAEC performance since 2015. The backlash has been particularly focused on the English Language paper, with many alleging that mismanagement and paper leaks led to chaos, poor supervision, and rushed rescheduling.
Widespread Calls for Remark and Accountability
Across social media, students, educators, and parents have flooded platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to express their outrage and suspicion over the abnormally high failure rate in English Language.
“WAEC, you explain how you people mark the English. Instead of WAEC to postpone the English language, you went and fixed it in the night and it has affected the students’ results. You have to do something about it,” said Chinwe Unigwe, an educator.
“WAEC gave our entire center F9 in English — not because we failed, but because of their own leak and chaos. We wrote late into the night under torchlight… Now we’re being punished?” tweeted Henry Davis, a candidate.
“WAEC Nigeria, you guys will stand in front of God and explain what you did to the English Language paper… we are soon coming out for protest,” threatened Ibrahim Abdul.
Suspicion Over Mass Failure Despite Good Performance in Other Subjects
Many users noted that candidates who excelled in subjects like Mathematics, Biology, and Literature mysteriously failed English, leading to growing calls for re-evaluation.
“I seriously don’t get you people. How does one get an A in Math and fail English? It’s absurd,” user @frank8784877208 posted.
“It’s high time the exam body allows schools to call for their candidates’ scripts, especially when grades don’t tally with the candidate’s known performance,” added @Kingmayor84.
One user, @call_me_evans_, lamented:
“I can’t score 320 in UTME and have E8 in English language. The scripts arrived late in my school and we wrote till night time. Please do something about it. I can’t be denied admission this year because of my WAEC. I am fully ready to resit for English.”
Another frustrated parent, @paulgloria24, tweeted:
“Maybe we should SUE WAEC because my ward cannot make such outstanding results in other subjects only for English to be E8. If this is a joke or a technical issue, I bid you sort it out today else I will request for a remark via court.”
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Teachers Weigh In: ‘Systemic Negligence’
Educators are also voicing their concerns, calling the outcome both suspicious and heartbreaking.
“Why are you failing all candidates in English Language? Are you trying to slow down education in Nigeria?” asked user @guru_L9, who noted that “students who are very good in written English are all failing English.”
“May I know why all my students, who were subjected to hellish conditions writing the exam, have outstanding grades in other subjects but failed English Language?” questioned @Olamismooth, a school teacher.
WAEC’s Silence Fuels Protest Threats
Despite the outcry, WAEC has yet to issue a detailed response to the allegations. While the examination body acknowledged holding back results of over 192,089 candidates over exam malpractice cases, it failed to address concerns specifically tied to the English Language paper.
As TJ News Nigeria learnt, many candidates were forced to write their English paper late at night under poor conditions after leaks led to last-minute changes. Some students claim their centers received scripts late, and they had to write using torchlight or in overcrowded, understaffed halls.
Legal Action Looms as Students Explore Court Options
The wave of public anger has now triggered the potential for class-action legal challenges. Parents like Paul Gloria are reportedly seeking legal consultation to compel WAEC to re-evaluate English Language scores.
Education rights activists have also weighed in, accusing WAEC of gross negligence and urging the Federal Ministry of Education to intervene and launch an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the conduct of the 2025 English paper.
Summary of Concerns Raised:
- Mass failure in English despite good performance in other subjects
- Alleged marking errors and administrative chaos
- WAEC’s rescheduling after leaks caused night-time exams
- Growing protest calls and legal threats
- Demands for transparency and release of scripts
What Next?
Education advocates are now demanding:
- Immediate remark of the 2025 English Language paper
- Public release of marking schemes
- Introduction of candidate appeal and review processes
- An independent committee to audit WAEC’s conduct of the 2025 WASSCE
Pay Attention To: WAEC 2025 Results Released – See How to Check Your Result on the Checker Portal
What you should know
The outrage over WAEC 2025 English Language results continues to spread across Nigeria. As the hashtag #RemarkWAEC2025English trends, all eyes remain on WAEC for answers — or actions.
