The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has officially released the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results, revealing one of the worst performances recorded in the last decade. According to the figures obtained, only 38.32% of candidates obtained credit passes in at least five subjects, including Mathematics and English Language.
TJ News Nigeria gathered that the low performance marks a steep decline compared to recent years and has sparked serious concerns over the state of education in Nigeria.
WAEC 2025 Performance at a Glance
According to WAEC’s official figures for the 2025 examination diet:
- Total number of candidates who sat for the exam: 1,476,231
- Number with credit in English and Mathematics: 565,621 (38.32%)
- Number with five credits including English or Math (but not both): 246,108 (16.67%)
- Candidates with less than five credits: 664,502 (45.01%)
The performance in 2025 is the lowest since 2015, and the sharp drop has raised red flags among educators, policymakers, and parents alike.
A Decade of WAEC Performance History (2015–2025)
A breakdown of the percentage of candidates who obtained five credits including English and Mathematics over the past 11 years shows an alarming trend:
| Year | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 38.68% |
| 2016 | 52.97% |
| 2017 | 59.22% |
| 2018 | 48.15% |
| 2019 | 64.18% |
| 2020 | 65.24% |
| 2021 | 81.70% |
| 2022 | 76.36% |
| 2023 | 79.81% |
| 2024 | 72.12% |
| 2025 | 38.32% |
This regression to a sub-40% pass rate mirrors 2015’s poor performance, wiping out nearly a decade of academic progress.
Why Did WAEC 2025 Record Such Poor Results?
Several factors have been identified as possible contributors to the 2025 WAEC result failure:
1. Teacher Strikes and Unstable Academic Calendar
Frequent industrial actions by teachers’ unions disrupted academic calendars in several states, resulting in incomplete syllabi coverage. Students in public schools were especially affected.
2. Economic Hardship
Many families struggled to afford textbooks, internet access for virtual learning, or extra tutorials, further widening the performance gap between students in urban vs. rural areas.
3. Insecurity and Displacement
Insecurity across parts of the North-East and North-Central led to school closures, displacement of students, and fear-induced absenteeism.
4. Exam Malpractice Crackdown
WAEC reportedly deployed AI-based detection systems and stricter supervision measures in 2025. Sources say hundreds of candidates had their results withheld due to suspected irregularities, reducing the overall pass percentage.
WAEC Yet to Release Full Result Analysis
Unlike previous years, the detailed analysis of subject-by-subject performance is yet to be published as of Monday, August 4, 2025. The council typically provides breakdowns for subjects like Mathematics, English, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Government, Literature, and Economics.
When TJ News Nigeria attempted to access the result analysis page, the information was still unavailable. Additionally, the WAEC result checker portal (www.waecdirect.org) showed multiple instances of “Result Not Available for This Candidate” when checked for some readers who had shared their details.
Stakeholders React to the WAEC 2025 Result Failure
Parents Blame Government and School System
Many parents have expressed dissatisfaction with the education system and blamed the government for neglecting public schools.
“We pay school fees, buy books, and still our children are taught nothing substantial. Many teachers are not even present half the time,” said Mrs. Aisha Bello, a parent in Kaduna.
Experts Call for Urgent Reforms
Education experts say the result calls for urgent reforms, including:
- Improved teacher training
- Digital tools integration in classrooms
- More funding for public schools
- Curricular alignment with global standards
Dr. Olumide Ayodele, an education consultant, told TJ News Nigeria:
“This is not just a poor performance; it’s an indictment on Nigeria’s failing education architecture.”
What This Means for 2025 University Admission
The poor performance will have ripple effects on admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Many candidates may not meet the minimum credit requirements set by institutions and JAMB.
Experts warn that competition for admission will intensify, especially among the fewer candidates who made five credits with English and Maths.
Education Failure in Nigeria: A National Emergency?
The 2025 WAEC results further amplify growing fears of education collapse in Nigeria, especially in public schools. A UNICEF report released earlier in 2025 identified:
- Over 10.5 million Nigerian children out of school
- Only 1 in 3 children in public secondary schools able to read or write effectively
- High dropout rates, especially among girls in the North
With Nigeria’s population expected to reach 230 million by 2030, experts say failure to address the education crisis could spell disaster for the country’s development goals.
How to Check WAEC 2025 Result
WAEC advises candidates to check their results using the following steps:
Online via WAEC Result Checker
- Visit www.waecdirect.org
- Enter your 10-digit WAEC Examination Number
- Select your Exam Year (2025)
- Choose your Exam Type (School Candidate Result)
- Enter your e-PIN Voucher Number
- Click “Submit” and view your result
Via SMS
- Send WAECExamNoPIN*ExamYear to 32327 (e.g., WAEC4250101001123456789012*2025)
- Wait for a reply SMS with your result
Note: SMS costs ₦30 per message
Also see : WAEC Results 2025: How to Check Your Scores Online and Via SMS
What Happens Next?
WAEC is expected to:
- Release the full subject performance analysis
- Provide state-by-state breakdown
- Announce decisions on withheld results due to malpractice investigations
Meanwhile, education authorities at the federal and state levels are being urged to act swiftly in addressing the issues that contributed to this setback.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 WAEC result is more than just statistics — it reflects a deeper, systemic issue in Nigeria’s education sector. With less than 4 in 10 students passing with core subjects, it’s time for bold reforms to rescue a generation at risk.
