WAEC 2025: Credibility on Trial Amid Reforms and Technical Hiccups

The credibility of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results, conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), has become a subject of national debate. This year’s results are emerging in the shadow of sweeping anti-malpractice reforms, technical setbacks, and an unexpected decline in student performance—all of which have triggered concern among candidates, parents, and educators.

WAEC had taken bold steps in 2025 to strengthen exam integrity. Among the most notable measures was the implementation of a security feature known as paper serialization. This innovation, aimed at curbing widespread cheating through uniquely coded question papers, marked a significant stride toward accountability. However, it inadvertently led to technical glitches during result processing—particularly in Mathematics, English, Biology, and Economics—causing temporary suspension of access to results and frustration across the board.

Compounding the issue was a sharp decline in overall pass rates. Only 38.3% of candidates secured credit passes in at least five subjects, including English and Mathematics—falling considerably below 2024 figures. This represents the lowest pass rate in a decade, a staggering 33.8% year-on-year drop. While some critics view this as an alarming sign of educational decline, WAEC officials and education analysts suggest the result reflects the impact of stricter anti-malpractice enforcement and possibly a more rigorous marking scheme under reforms.

Additionally, WAEC withheld 192,089 results over suspicions of exam malpractice. While such a move reinforces the Council’s commitment to upholding standards, the widespread nature of withheld results points to persistent systemic challenges in exam conduct, especially in classrooms where supervision and infrastructure are weak.

Technologically, WAEC has ventured into a hybrid examination model, combining traditional methods with aspects of computer-based testing to ensure efficiency and transparency. Despite these digital upgrades, the glitches experienced this year have hampered trust and cast doubt on the reliability of the result delivery process.

WAEC has since acknowledged the challenges, issued apologies, and assured the public of swift resolution measures. It has also cautioned stakeholders against misinformation and advised reliance on official communication channels for accurate result updates.

In conclusion, the credibility of the 2025 WAEC results is under scrutiny not due to malpractice, but due to growing pains associated with reform and modernization. WAEC’s commitment to transparency is evident, but balancing security with seamless execution remains a work in progress. Confidence in the system can be restored if technical shortcomings are addressed and reform efforts consistently improved.