The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has faced criticism for inconsistencies and glitches in its examinations. According to Dr Amos Dangut, the council's registrar and CEO, some of these issues arose from the introduction of new innovations, including the Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE). Dangut noted that the changes led to a drop in examination malpractice, but also resulted in some teething problems.
In 2025, WAEC introduced CB-WASSCE, which led to a rate of 9.7 percent in examination malpractice, dropping to 8.59 percent this year. Dangut attributed the decline to the new innovations. However, he acknowledged that some people were resistant to the changes, leading to controversy and criticism. The council's records indicate a positive impact from the innovations, but also revealed that cyber rogue websites and companies that engage in fraudulent activities were angered by the changes.
One of the major challenges faced by WAEC was the delay in registration, which affected the preparation and conduct of the examination. According to Dangut, the registration process should have been concluded in late 2024 but was not completed until April 2026. This delay led to a rush in logistics and printing, causing some candidates to sit for the examination late into the night. The Federal Ministry of Education's intervention was necessary to get schools to register on time.
The Federal Government had directed all examination bodies to conduct examinations in computer-based mode. However, WAEC's plans to implement this were affected by a late directive from the ministry. The council had prepared for schools that were ready and had the necessary facilities, but the change in plans led to logistical challenges. A total of 25,000 schools enrolled for the examination, with approximately 200 schools opting for CB-WASSCE.
The logistical challenges, including a protest by teachers, affected the conduct of the examination in some areas. However, Dangut confirmed that the results of the students were not affected. He also noted that some schools observed that their students, who performed well in other international exams, recorded lower grades in the WAEC examination. Dangut attributed this to the fact that the council's examination is designed to test different skills and knowledge.
Despite the challenges, Dangut expressed confidence in the council's ability to conduct a successful examination. He emphasized the need for stakeholders to adapt to change and for schools to register on time to avoid delays. The council's goal is to have virtually all schools, particularly in urban and semi-urban centers, conduct the examination using CB-WASSCE.
The introduction of CB-WASSCE has brought significant changes to the examination process, including a secured test environment that prevents cheating. Dangut clarified that technology glitches do not occur in CB-WASSCE, and the council is committed to ensuring the integrity of the examination. The council will continue to work with stakeholders to address the challenges and improve the examination process.
Key points
- The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) faced criticism for inconsistencies and glitches in its examinations.
- The council's introduction of Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) led to a drop in examination malpractice.
- Registration delays and logistical challenges affected the conduct of the examination, but not the results of the students.
