Just In:WAEC Announces Readiness for 2025 WASSCE, Introduces Innovations and Strengthens Anti-Malpractice Measures
Written By Dedeigbo Samson Ayodeji
Posted By Town Crier News Nigeria
Published By Fitness Network Communications
The Head of the Nigeria National Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut, FSTAN, MNIM, RAS, has affirmed the Council’s readiness for the conduct of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates, 2025 in Nigeria. Speaking during a press briefing held at the WAEC National Office, Yaba, Lagos, on Thursday, April 17, 2025, Dr. Dangut, on behalf of the Registrar to Council, the Management and Staff of WAEC Nigeria, assured the public of the Council’s commitment to delivering a smooth and credible examination process.
As part of its drive towards improving service delivery through technology, WAEC has introduced the maiden Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) for School Candidates. A significant innovation this year is that no two candidates will receive the same set of questions per number in certain WASSCE codes. This move is aimed at strengthening academic and moral integrity in line with the National Policy on Education and the vision of the Federal Ministry of Education.
The 2025 examination is scheduled to hold from Thursday, April 24 to Friday, June 20, spanning eight weeks and one day. A total of 1,973,253 candidates from 23,554 schools have registered for the examination. Among these, 979,228 are males (49.63%) and 994,025 are females (50.37%). This reflects an increase of 158,627 candidates compared to last year. The examination will cover 74 subjects, comprising 196 papers. About 26,000 senior secondary school teachers nominated by various Ministries of Education will serve as supervisors.
Photo Caption:Head Of National Office Dr.Amos Josiah Dangut and the entire Staff in a group Photograph
In compliance with the Federal Government’s directive, the National Identification Number (NIN) was included in the registration process. However, it was not made mandatory initially to ease access. Schools were required to upload their candidates’ NINs, and no candidate was found ineligible due to non-submission.
Dr. Dangut acknowledged the security challenges in the country, citing incidents recorded during previous examinations. He noted that last year, a threat to a particular subject in one geopolitical zone was managed effectively. WAEC continues to collaborate with the Nigeria Police Force and state governments to provide security and ensure the smooth conduct of the exams. The Council expressed gratitude to State Governments for their ongoing support in the fight against examination malpractice.
WAEC remains firm in its stand against examination malpractice. The Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC), the Council’s highest decision-making organ on examination matters, will approve penalties for any form of malpractice involving candidates, supervisors, or schools. WAEC has been conducting nationwide awareness campaigns and seminars, targeting school proprietors, principals, students, and stakeholders. Sensitization materials including flyers, banners, and posters have been distributed to reinforce the message.
Additionally, the implementation of varying question papers for candidates is a deliberate strategy to curb malpractice. Dr. Dangut warned that candidates attempting to answer a paper other than the one assigned to them will face consequences. He urged parents to encourage their children to prepare diligently and avoid cheating. He also appealed to the media to continue supporting WAEC’s efforts in this regard and called on state Ministries of Education to caution principals, teachers, and officials serving as inspectors or supervisors. Erring schools whose candidates are involved in mass cheating will be derecognised, while culpable officials and candidates will face appropriate sanctions. He encouraged aggrieved candidates or schools to lodge complaints through WAEC’s official website: https://waecinternational.org/complaints.
He also stressed that any centre derecognised by another examining body would remain derecognised by WAEC, affirming that such institutions will not be granted undue recognition.
Addressing the issue of rogue website operators, Dr. Dangut issued a stern warning against their activities, noting that the Council would not condone their actions. He urged parents to steer clear of such platforms, stating that engaging with these websites could jeopardize their children’s future. WAEC will collaborate with the Nigerian Police Force to bring such perpetrators to justice, ensuring there is no hiding place for them.
In an effort to support candidates, WAEC has made available a range of learning resources. These include booklets containing past question papers, marking schemes, and Chief Examiners’ Reports for various subjects. The reports provide performance insights and suggest areas for improvement.
Candidates are encouraged to utilize the WAEC E-Study Portal at waec.estudy.ng, which offers access to past questions, learning plans, marking schemes, and performance insights. Similarly, the WAEC E-Learning Portal, accessible via https://WAEConline.org.ng, provides resources that address common weaknesses identified in previous exams and offer solutions to enhance learning. Another innovation, WAEC Konnect, is a platform that enables candidates and stakeholders to interact with the Council and receive timely updates. Candidates can access this platform via https://www.waeckonnect.com.
As is customary, the results of the examination will be released 45 days after the last paper, and certificates will be printed and issued to schools within 90 days of result release. Digital copies of the certificates will also be made available through WAEC’s Digital Certificate platform.
Dr. Dangut highlighted the importance of timely registration, noting that late entries pose challenges for the planning and execution of examination-related tasks. He appealed to schools to adhere to registration deadlines to ensure proper preparation.
WAEC continues to improve its services through digital transformation. The WAEC Digital Certificate, launched recently, allows candidates from 1999 till date to access, verify, and share their certificates and retrieve their examination numbers. This platform has garnered international usage. WAEC also offers Computer-Based Test and Aptitude Test services at its Testing and Training Centre in Ogba and at its Aptitude Tests Department in Yaba, serving both governmental and non-governmental clients. The Council has also introduced the WAEC Chatbot, accessible via www.request.waec.org or through WhatsApp on 08179439269 and 07061741253, for real-time access to WAEC services. Institutions can also use WAEC Verify to authenticate applicants’ results through online access to WAEC’s database.
Another innovation is the Centre Locator tool, which allows users to geographically identify examination centres in real time. Furthermore, candidates whose results are withheld due to malpractice allegations can now submit appeals through the Examination Malpractice Portal at https://waecinternational.org/complaints, with their cases reviewed by the Nigeria Examinations Committee.
In conclusion, Dr. Dangut assured the public of WAEC’s preparedness for the 2025 WASSCE, in collaboration with the Federal and State Ministries of Education, security agencies, and stakeholders. The final international timetable has been sent to all schools for proper guidance. He expressed profound appreciation to the Honourable Minister of Education, the Honourable Minister of State for Education, State Ministries of Education, the Inspector-General of Police, and all partners for their continued support. He urged the media to maintain their valuable partnership with the Council to ensure the successful conduct of the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2025.
He ended the briefing by thanking members of the press for their attendance, despite the short notice, and gave glory to God for His guidance and protection.
