The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results for 2025 have revealed a significant drop in student performance, marking the lowest pass rate in over a decade. According to official figures released by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), only 38.32% of candidates obtained credits in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, a drastic decline from the 72.12% recorded in 2024.
This figure translates to just 754,545 out of the 1,969,313 candidates who sat for the exam across Nigeria and other affiliated centres in the Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, and Equatorial Guinea. The pass rate, now at its lowest since 2015, represents a 33.8% year-on-year drop and signals a reversal in the gains made between 2016 and 2023, when the percentage of successful candidates steadily increased, peaking at over 81% in 2021.
Dr Amos Dangut, Head of WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, disclosed these figures during a press briefing on Monday, noting that the steep fall in performance raises concerns about the quality of learning and examination preparation across many schools. He further announced that 192,089 results representing 9.75% of total candidates have been withheld pending investigations into reported cases of examination malpractice.
WAEC attributed the rise in malpractice to the persistent use of mobile phones in exam halls, despite a standing ban, and coordinated cheating involving schools and candidates. Dr Dangut confirmed that all reported cases are under investigation and will be reviewed by the Council’s appropriate committee. Affected candidates will be notified of the outcomes through their respective schools and are allowed to seek redress.
Beyond the overall performance and malpractice issues, the Council highlighted a notable inclusion effort for candidates with special needs. This year, 12,178 students with various disabilities, including visual, hearing, and cognitive impairments, participated in the examination reflecting a growing commitment to inclusive education.
On the logistical side, WAEC announced that candidates who have met their financial obligations can begin accessing their results within twelve hours via the Council’s official portal. Digital certificates will be available within 48 hours, while hard copies are expected to be ready within 90 days. However, results for students sponsored by indebted state governments remain withheld until outstanding payments are cleared.
As stakeholders continue to digest the outcome of this year’s WASSCE, WAEC has reiterated its call for a collective effort to tackle examination malpractice and uphold educational standards. “Schools, supervisors, teachers, and candidates perpetrating this evil are not helping the educational system,” Dangut stated. “WAEC is calling for all hands to be on deck to sanitise the system.”
The sharp decline in performance has reignited debates on the efficacy of current teaching methods, exam preparation, and the integrity of Nigeria’s educational assessment process.
