Daniel Otera
The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has called for urgent intervention in Nigeria’s education sector after the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results revealed what officials describe as the country’s most significant academic performance decline in over a decade.
Out of 1,969,313 candidates who sat for the examination, only 754,545 candidates representing 38.32% obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, according to initial results released by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). The figures represented a sharp decline from the 2024 results, where 72.12% of candidates met the same benchmark.
However, the controversy deepened when WAEC revised the 2025 WASSCE results for school candidates in Nigeria, raising the number of students who obtained credits in at least five core subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, from 38.32% to 62.96%, citing the discovery of technical issues in the initial compilation process.
Dr Yomi Otubela, National President of NAPPS, criticised the initial results as “the worst in about 15 years,” comparing them unfavourably to the previous low point of 39% recorded in 2015. Even with the revised figures showing 62.96% pass rates, NAPPS officials maintain that the controversy highlights deeper systemic problems within Nigeria’s educational framework.
“This is the worst in about 15 years,” Otubela stated during a television interview, emphasising that the decline reflects fundamental weaknesses in the education system. “We have not paid sufficient attention to the capacity building of our teachers, the budgetary allocation falls short of UNESCO’s recommendation.”
The NAPPS leadership has identified several critical factors contributing to the poor performance, including inadequate teacher training programmes, insufficient education funding, and deteriorating learning conditions across both public and private institutions.
NAPPS officials have highlighted the stark digital divide affecting educational outcomes, particularly in rural areas, where technological resources remain severely limited. “Some children hardly have access to a computer. In some places, it is just one to 100,” Otubela explained, pointing to the severe shortage of technological resources in Nigerian schools.
The association represents private school owners across Nigeria’s 36 states and has been advocating for improved educational standards since its founding in 2005 with the aim of promoting the welfare and interaction of proprietors of private schools and the advancement of quality educational services in Nigeria.
The infrastructure challenges extend beyond digital access to basic learning environments. Otubela described extreme conditions under which students attempted the examinations, stating: “Children who were forced to write exams late into the night using candles or torches cannot be set as a standard for attaining commendable results.”
The 2025 WASSCE results controversy occurs within the broader context of Nigeria’s persistent educational challenges. Nigeria counted 22.7 million children enrolled in public elementary schools in 2019 and 5.4 million in private schools, indicating the significant role private institutions play in the country’s educational landscape.
UNICEF data reveals that only 61 per cent of 6-11 year-olds regularly attend primary school and only 35.6 per cent of children aged 36-59 months receive early childhood education. The situation is particularly concerning in northern Nigeria, where the net attendance rate stands at 53 per cent.
The examination malpractice issue also featured prominently in the 2025 results. WAEC disclosed that 192,089 results were withheld due to various examination irregularities, representing approximately 9.8% of all candidates who sat for the examination.
The association has called for what Otubela termed a “state of emergency” in the education sector, demanding comprehensive reforms addressing teacher quality, infrastructure development, and policy implementation.
NAPPS has commended recent initiatives by the Federal Ministry of Education, particularly the push for stricter teacher registration through the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria. “We cannot raise children who have to struggle to pass without adequate facilities,” Otubela emphasised.
The association’s president criticised weak enforcement of educational standards, stating: “Our challenges are not about the provision of policies… it is the ability to implement these policies without fear or favour.”
Regarding recent online circulation of lists allegedly naming schools involved in examination malpractice, NAPPS has taken a strong stance defending institutional integrity. Otubela confirmed that WAEC had denied issuing such lists, advising the public to “discountenance” unverified information.
“Those lists are not facts… the public should discountenance that,” he stated, whilst acknowledging that WAEC’s formal review process allows candidates to request script re-marking for disputed results.
The revised results now show 1,239,884 candidates representing 62.96 per cent having obtained credit passes in five subjects or more, including English Language and Mathematics, providing some statistical relief but leaving fundamental systemic concerns unaddressed according to NAPPS officials.
The 2025 WASSCE results controversy, whether viewed through the lens of the initial 38.32% pass rate or the revised 62.96% figure, has crystallised longstanding concerns about Nigeria’s educational trajectory.
NAPPS maintains that meaningful improvement requires sustained investment in teacher training, infrastructure development, and rigorous policy implementation rather than statistical adjustments to examination results.