The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has explained the circumstances behind the delayed conduct of Mathematics and Agricultural Science papers in some centres during the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), attributing the disruption to a combination of logistical and security challenges.
In a statement issued on Monday, the examination body said preliminary investigations revealed that the delays were triggered by factors that affected the timely distribution of examination materials to affected centres.
According to WAEC, a major contributing factor was a fatal road accident involving officials transporting sensitive examination materials across states. The Council disclosed that the crash, which occurred on June 3, claimed the lives of three personnel and disrupted its distribution schedule.
The examination body said the tragedy, alongside prevailing security concerns in some parts of the country, created operational difficulties that led to delayed commencement of the examinations in certain locations.
WAEC noted that despite the setback, emergency measures were immediately activated to ensure candidates in affected centres were able to sit for the examinations.
The Council also identified late registration of candidates and issues relating to the finalisation of examination modalities as factors that complicated preparations for the affected papers.
In addition, it said security-related disruptions, including protests linked to recent school abductions in parts of the country, affected movement and the distribution of examination materials.
While expressing regret over the inconvenience caused to candidates and stakeholders, WAEC assured the public that corrective measures had been put in place to prevent a recurrence during the remainder of the examination period.
The Council said examinations conducted on Friday, June 5, proceeded smoothly and expressed confidence that subsequent papers would be administered without major disruptions.
WAEC also acknowledged the support of federal and state education authorities, security agencies and other stakeholders in ensuring the successful conduct of the ongoing examination.
The examination body reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the credibility, integrity and reliability of its assessment processes across member countries.
