The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has reported a drastic decline in performance in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), with only 38.32% of candidates obtaining five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.
This marks a 33.8% drop from the 72.12% success rate recorded in 2024, raising serious concerns among stakeholders in the education sector.
According to Dr. Amos Dangut, Head of WAEC’s National Office, only 754,545 of the 1,969,313 candidates who sat for the exam met the benchmark for university admission.
“The outcome of the 2025 WASSCE is deeply concerning,” Dr. Dangut said at a press briefing on Monday.
“We are committed to maintaining standards, but this result reflects deeper challenges in the education system.”
Breakdown of WAEC 2025 Results:
-
Total candidates who sat: 1,969,313
-
Candidates with 5 credits including English & Maths: 754,545 (38.32%)
-
Male: 347,192 (46.01%)
-
Female: 407,353 (53.99%)
-
-
Total registered candidates: 1,973,365 from 23,554 schools
-
Countries covered: Nigeria, Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea
Exam Malpractice on the Rise
WAEC revealed that 192,089 candidates (9.75%) had their results withheld due to involvement in examination malpractice, which included:
-
Unauthorized use of mobile phones
-
Organised cheating syndicates within some schools
“All cases are currently under investigation,” Dr. Dangut stated.
“Sanctions will be applied, and affected candidates will be informed through their schools.”
WAEC Reaffirms Commitment to Integrity
The examination body maintained its zero-tolerance policy on cheating, emphasizing the importance of cooperation from schools, teachers, and students in restoring integrity to the system.
“Perpetrators of exam malpractice—whether schools, teachers, or students—are damaging the future of education. We must all work together to restore the credibility of our examinations,” WAEC added.
Call to Action
The 2025 WASSCE results have triggered renewed calls for:
-
Curriculum reform
-
Improved teacher training
-
Stricter regulation of private schools and exam centers
-
Investment in student readiness programs
