The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is facing renewed criticism following the sudden shutdown of its result-checking portal, adding fuel to the widespread discontent over the poor performance recorded in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The Council, in a statement released via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, @waecnigeria, announced on Wednesday evening that the result portal—www.waecdirect.org—was temporarily down due to “technical issues.” The announcement was met with immediate backlash from candidates and parents alike.
“WAEC hereby informs the general public that the result checker portal @waecdirect.org is temporarily shutdown due to technical issues. However, the Council is working assiduously to ensure that candidates are able to access their results in the next 24 hours. Please bear with us,” the statement read.
The crash came just days after WAEC released the 2025 May/June WASSCE results, revealing that only 38.32% of the 1,969,313 candidates who sat for the examination obtained five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics—a significant decline from previous years, and the lowest performance recorded in over a decade.
Delayed English Paper Sparks Controversy
Amid the outrage, many Nigerians took to social media to express deep frustration, particularly over the English Language results. Several users pointed to the logistical challenges and delays that plagued the English Language paper, which was written late into the night at many examination centres on May 28, 2025.
A video shared online by Channels Television showed students in Taraba State sitting for their English exam late at night, sparking national debate about the examination’s credibility and fairness.
Candidates and parents alike have raised concerns that the unusual circumstances under which the English Language examination was conducted—marked by fatigue, lack of proper lighting, and general disorientation—may have contributed significantly to the poor outcomes.
Public Reaction and Call for Script Review
Many Nigerians have demanded a thorough review of the English Language scripts. Some shared screenshots of result sheets showing excellent grades in subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Civic Education, and Mathematics—contrasted by a fail grade in English Language.
“Students wrote English paper in the midnight and yet WAEC failed them,” said @MarquizDejavex on X.
“Imagine having A1 in Physics, Chemistry, Civic, and Further Maths, then scoring D7, E8, or F9 in English. Why? Leaked paper. Last-minute timetable change. Some wrote the exam at 11 p.m., drained and unprepared. Now WAEC brands them ‘failures’? These students deserve better,” another user, @quwam001, posted.
Education advocates and commentators, including Alex Onyia, have also warned that the situation is pushing some students into despair, with reports of emotional breakdowns and mental health challenges resulting from the unexpected failure.
“Young students in Nigeria are bleeding. WAEC mass failure in English language is putting their lives at risk. Some are already suicidal and we need to save them now. WAEC is the problem and they need to fix it now!” Onyia tweeted.
Allegations of Manipulation and Revenue Drive
Several critics have also accused WAEC of deliberate manipulation of results for commercial gain, alleging that the mass failure could be an attempt to increase demand for result remarking and resit registrations. As of the time of filing this report, WAEC has not publicly addressed these allegations nor explained the reasons behind the poor English Language performance.
Political and Legal Reactions
In response to mounting pressure, an Ebonyi State lawmaker has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the examination body, demanding the release of withheld results and clarification on the grading process.
Meanwhile, advocacy groups and parents’ associations are calling for the cancellation and re-scheduling of the English Language paper, citing injustice and systemic failure.
Looking Ahead
As the portal outage lingers, with many candidates still unable to access their results, WAEC’s credibility is increasingly being called into question. Many stakeholders are urging the Federal Ministry of Education to initiate an independent investigation into the conduct of the 2025 WASSCE, particularly the English Language examination.
With WAEC promising restoration of the result portal within 24 hours, thousands of students are left waiting—grappling with uncertainty, frustration, and in many cases, shattered dreams.
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