Abuja — The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has apologised for the delay in administering the 2025 English Language paper, attributing the disruption to efforts aimed at preventing examination malpractice.

In a statement on Thursday, WAEC acknowledged that many candidates were forced to sit for the Paper 2 exam hours behind schedule on May 28, with some writing under torchlight and lanterns due to power outages. Viral videos showed students in dark classrooms as late as 10pm, sparking public outrage over student welfare and exam planning.

WAEC’s Acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, explained that the council’s strict security protocols to prevent paper leakage significantly contributed to the delay.

“While we successfully protected the integrity of the paper, this inadvertently affected the timely conduct of the exam,” Adesina said.

The council also cited logistical challenges, security issues, and sociocultural factors as additional hurdles that disrupted operations across some centres.

To prevent a recurrence, WAEC said it is collaborating with security agencies to streamline processes and enhance operational efficiency. The council reaffirmed its commitment to academic excellence and expressed regret for the disruption.

“We sincerely apologise to candidates, schools, and parents for the inconvenience and thank all stakeholders for their understanding during this challenging period,” WAEC added.

The 2025 WASSCE for school candidates began on April 24 and will conclude on June 20.