NANS blasts WAEC over late-night English exam, cites student safety risks

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has criticised the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for the late conduct of the English Language paper in the ongoing Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations, calling the delay a threat to students’ safety and evidence of deeper administrative lapses.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the association’s National Public Relations Officer, Adeyemi Ajasa, NANS described the rescheduling of the exam from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. as disruptive and dangerous, especially for students in rural communities.

“The National Association of Nigerian Students, under the leadership of Comrade Olushola Oladoja, strongly condemns the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) over the undue delay of the English Language paper on Wednesday, allegedly due to the leakage of examination questions,” Ajasa said.

“This development, which resulted in the postponement of the examination to an absurdly late period of 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., demonstrates a shocking level of insensitivity and a gross disregard for the safety and well-being of Nigerian students, particularly those in rural communities.”

He noted that students were forced to write the critical subject under poor lighting conditions, exposing them to potential harm while travelling home late and compromising their psychological readiness.

Ajasa also linked the delay to broader security failings within WAEC’s operations, pointing to repeated instances of examination leakages as symptoms of a broken system.

The repeated incidents of examination paper leakage are a clear indication of systemic failures in WAEC’s security measures and operations. NANS strongly believes that these lapses tarnish the credibility of our educational system and unfairly burden Nigerian students, who are already grappling with numerous challenges.”

The students’ association has called on WAEC to investigate and identify those responsible for the leaked papers and to adopt stricter protocols, including better staff training and the use of technology, to prevent future breaches.

“WAEC must implement stricter security protocols to prevent future occurrences, leveraging technology and enhancing staff training to safeguard the integrity of its examinations,” Ajasa stated.

He added that the council must publicly apologise to affected candidates and their families, and take urgent steps to ensure the safety of students, especially in areas with limited access to secure transport or lighting.

Safety measures are needed for students, especially those in rural areas, who travel home late after exams. Their academic future should not be put at risk due to poor administration or institutional neglect.

NANS warned that it would continue to monitor the situation and would not hesitate to escalate the matter if WAEC fails to respond with meaningful reforms.