Over 1.9 million students will sit for Nigeria’s first-ever digital West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), marking a significant shift in the country’s educational landscape. The exam, set to run from April 24 to June 20, 2025, will be entirely computer-based.
According to Iyabo Lawal’s report from April 18, 2025, on Premium Times, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is fully prepared to conduct this landmark examination. Dr. Amos Dangut, the Head of WAEC Nigeria, revealed that the move to a digital format is aimed at enhancing the integrity and efficiency of the examination process.
Dangut explained that, for the first time, candidates will receive different questions for each exam number. He emphasized that this change represents a shift in how exams are administered, helping to curb malpractice. He further disclosed that a total of 1,973,253 candidates from 23,554 schools will sit for the exam, marking a rise of over 158,000 from the previous year.
Of these candidates, 979,228 are male, making up 49.63% of the total, while 994,025 are female, accounting for 50.37%. This reflects a continued increase in female participation in the examination. The exam will cover 74 subjects and include 196 papers, with over 26,000 teachers serving as supervisors nationwide.
Dangut also announced that 574 schools had been sanctioned for malpractice, with the list of affected schools forwarded to the federal government for further action. He urged candidates, supervisors, and schools to adhere strictly to the rules, stressing the importance of maintaining the credibility of the exam.
WAEC has promised that the results will be released 45 days after the final paper, and certificates will be issued within 90 days. The council has also pledged to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Education, state ministries, and security agencies to ensure the success of this digital examination.
Article updated 3 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
