Samuel Omang
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is facing renewed criticism after its result checker portal temporarily went offline on Wednesday evening, deepening frustrations over the widespread failure recorded in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), especially in English Language.
The council announced the shutdown via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, @waecnigeria, citing “technical issues” as the cause of the disruption. The statement read: “WAEC hereby informs the general public that the result checker portal @waecdirect.org is temporarily shut down due to technical issues. However, the Council is working assiduously to ensure that candidates are able to access their results in the next 24 hours. We apologise for any inconvenience this might have caused you.”
The announcement sparked an outcry across social media, coming just days after WAEC revealed that only 38.32% of the 1,969,313 candidates who sat for the 2025 WASSCE obtained credits and above in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics—marking the worst performance in over a decade.
Online platforms have been flooded with angry reactions from candidates and parents, many of whom allege mismanagement of the English Language examination. Reports indicate that on May 28, several examination centres experienced severe delays, with some students writing the English paper as late as 8 p.m., under dim lighting and time constraints.
On X, users have been posting screenshots of their results, many showing excellent grades in other subjects but D7, E8, or F9 in English. Some users are calling for a comprehensive review of the English Language scripts. One user, @sikimark, posted: “It is concerning that the English exam, which was delayed at centres nationwide, is now resulting in widespread failures. If JAMB could make amends, we hope you (WAEC) will take steps to rectify the situation. It was a national disgrace.”
Another user, @_samad1, recounted: “We wrote exams at 8 p.m. We were given one hour or 30 minutes to answer questions that should last two and a half hours. There was no light, and everyone was in a hurry to leave. Please rethink.”
Some candidates believe the results may change once the portal is restored. “When the portal is reopened, you will see magic,” tweeted @ebitimi_da15726.
Accusations have also emerged suggesting deliberate manipulation or monetisation of failure, with some alleging that the grading was skewed to drive up demand for remarking and result upgrades. “Just like JAMB, WAEC is gambling with the future of Nigerians. If the majority of the D’s, E’s and F8’s awarded in English are rechecked, WAEC will pay dearly,” @JayTrezy alleged.
Parents have added their voices to the growing chorus of concern. One user, @Johnway11145073, lamented: “My daughter got five A1 and two B2, only to get D7 in English and Physics (withheld).” Another, @DEYHOT_official, pleaded with the council: “WAEC, please I am begging, help us check the English Language exam again. I can’t accept this result. I struggled so hard to get money and pay for this exam, and now you failed me. This result is affecting my future.”
The backlash has reached fever pitch, with some users demanding a total recall of the 2025 results. “We reject this year’s results, particularly the English and Maths. WAEC, please do the needful to avoid mass protests,” @pastorbtdaniels posted.
Another user, @MarquizDejavex, commented, “Students wrote English papers at midnight and yet WAEC failed them.”
Echoing the frustration, @e_okwori called for federal intervention: “The students who were robbed and given abysmal grades in English should tag the Presidency and Minister of Education to have an external body revise the whole exam process.”
As of press time, WAEC has not issued any clarification on the English Language grading or responded to the mounting calls for a remark or review process. The result portal remained inaccessible at the time of reporting.