WAEC Exam Chaos: Parents Fear Mass Failure as Students Write Papers Late into the Night in Delta State

 

Parents and guardians across Warri, Effurun, and neighboring communities are sounding the alarm following widespread disruptions during the ongoing 2024/2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Their concerns center on Wednesday, May 28, when candidates endured unusually late examination hours, with some students returning home near midnight after sitting for their English Language paper.

At several examination centers, the situation grew increasingly tense as students waited long into the day for question papers to arrive. According to multiple eyewitness accounts, the English Language exam, a compulsory and pivotal subject in the WASSCE curriculum, did not commence in some schools until around 11:00 a.m.—several hours behind schedule. The delays stretched the day's activities far beyond the expected timeline.

Parents have voiced deep apprehension not only about the academic implications of such disruption but also about the physical and psychological toll it may have taken on students. For many, the image of their children arriving home well past conventional hours evoked feelings of fear, anger, and helplessness.

A mother in Warri, who works as a hairdresser, recounted her experience. “My son didn’t get home until almost midnight. His school had to switch on the generator just so they could finish the exam. He told me afterward that it felt like something out of a storybook—something he’d tell his children one day,” she said, her tone a mixture of fatigue and frustration. “We just pray the students will pass. The fact that it was a core subject, English Language, makes it worse.”

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has attributed the logistical delays to new preventive measures aimed at curbing examination malpractice, specifically the leakage of question papers. While the intention may be to uphold the integrity of the examination process, the execution has left many questioning whether the cost to students is justifiable.

Anxieties were further exacerbated in more remote communities like Uvwiama in Agbarho, where the situation became not only inconvenient but also potentially dangerous. One father, whose child wrote the exam near the railway tracks in the area, said his mind was plagued with worry all evening.

“Everything was just wrong. It was getting dark, and the exam had not even started. By the time they finished, it was already night. Apart from the fear of moving around so late, I was also afraid the children could be kidnapped. It’s not just about failing an exam anymore—it’s about whether they’ll come back safely.”

Beyond parental concern, students themselves appear to be bearing the brunt of the situation. Fatigue, stress, and confusion marred what should have been a decisive academic moment. For many, the long hours of waiting under the hot sun or in poorly ventilated classrooms powered only by standby generators created an environment hardly conducive for optimal performance.

As the examination season continues, questions linger about whether this trend of delayed paper delivery will persist. Civil society organizations, educational advocates, and local authorities are being urged to intervene, investigate the root causes, and advocate for a safer, more reliable process.

While WAEC insists that security and exam integrity remain their top priority, families in Delta State are demanding balance—a system that protects the exams from leaks without compromising the safety and performance of the students.

The events of May 28 have sparked wider conversations about the preparedness and adaptability of national examination bodies, especially in high-stakes situations. The test of knowledge has, for these students, also become a test of resilience—one they were never meant to take.