The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has taken decisive action against examination malpractice in the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), issuing warnings to 109 secondary schools and derecognizing nine others for their involvement in fraudulent practices.

The Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC) of WAEC announced these measures following investigations into reported irregularities during the May/June 2024 examination, which saw 1,805,216 candidates from 25,126 schools participate.

Additionally, WAEC has debunked viral claims of the cancellation of the 2025 WASSCE English Language paper, labeling them as fake news spread by mischief-makers.

The NEC’s actions target 118 public and private secondary schools, including prominent institutions such as Kings College, Lagos; CMS Grammar School, Bariga; Igbobi College, Yaba; and Baptist Girls Academy, Obanikoro. Other schools warned include Lagos State Model Senior College, Kankon; Whitesands School, Lekki; Vetland Senior Grammar School, Ifako-Ijaiye; and Solomon Grace Secondary School, Abule-Egba, among others.

These schools received formal warnings for their roles in examination malpractices, such as facilitating cheating or failing to curb candidate misconduct.

Nine schools faced harsher penalties, with WAEC derecognizing them as examination centers due to severe infractions.

The affected schools are Lagos Baptist Senior High Secondary School, Agege; Assfood International College, Ketu; Greendome High School, Oworoshoki; Community Senior Secondary School, Adeniran Ogunsanya; Eunice College, Odutola; Lagout Ajasa; Command Griffiths College, Igbobi-Ikorodu; Submile College, Ojo; Rose Bethel Comprehensive High School, Mosafejo, Ojo; and Lily Pride Comprehensive High School, Igando.

Of these, two are state-owned, and seven are privately owned. Candidates from these schools were reassigned to other centers for the 2025 WASSCE, as the derecognized schools were barred from presenting candidates.

“The Nigeria Examinations Committee investigated various reported cases of examination malpractice and consequently decided to warn/derecognize the following schools,” said Oluju, L.O., WAEC’s Senior Deputy Registrar.

The council withheld the results of 215,267 candidates (11.92% of total participants) pending further investigation into their alleged involvement in malpractices, underscoring the scale of the issue.

The 2024 WASSCE, conducted from April 30 to June 24, 2024, was marred by significant challenges, including a high-profile leak of the English Language paper, which was reportedly circulated days before the exam.

This incident, described as an “inside job” possibly involving WAEC officials, forced the council to reprint question papers, causing delays and logistical disruptions. In some centers, particularly in Lagos, Ogun, Taraba, and Osun, candidates wrote exams late at night under inadequate conditions, such as using torchlights due to power outages.

These events fueled public outrage and raised concerns about the integrity of the examination process.

WAEC’s crackdown reflects its ongoing efforts to combat systemic malpractice, which includes smuggling mobile devices into exam halls, organized cheating syndicates, and impersonation.

The council has involved police and security agencies to investigate these networks, which profit by distributing exam questions and answers. The Examination Malpractices Act No. 33 of 1999, as amended, supports WAEC’s actions, prescribing penalties like imprisonment and fines for offenders.

WAEC Debunks 2025 English Paper Cancellation Rumors

In a separate development, WAEC has refuted claims that the English Language paper for the 2025 WASSCE, written on May 28, 2025, was canceled. A viral press release dated May 30, 2025, falsely claimed the exam was annulled due to irregularities, sparking confusion among candidates and parents. WAEC’s Acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, dismissed the release as “fake and the work of mischief-makers” intent on discrediting the council.

“The said examination has not been cancelled,” Adesina stated, emphasizing that WAEC communicates only through verified channels, including its official social media handles and accredited media outlets.

The council attributed delays in the 2025 English Language exam to heightened anti-malpractice measures, particularly efforts to prevent question paper leaks. Despite logistical challenges, WAEC confirmed the exam’s validity and urged stakeholders to disregard unverified information.

Implications and WAEC’s Commitment

The sanctions against 118 schools, including prestigious ones, highlight the pervasive nature of exam malpractice across Nigeria’s educational landscape.

The involvement of elite schools like Kings College and Igbobi College has sparked debate about the pressures to achieve high pass rates, which may drive unethical practices.

Derecognition of schools, particularly private ones, could impact their enrollment and financial viability, while withheld results create uncertainty for thousands of candidates awaiting resolution through WAEC’s complaints portal (https://waecinternational.org/complaints).

WAEC expressed gratitude for public trust over its 73-year history and reaffirmed its commitment to improving service delivery. “We promise to always seek innovative ways to render quality services to the Nigerian child,” the council stated.

To prevent future disruptions, WAEC is exploring technological solutions like Computer-Based Testing (CBT), which has shown promise in reducing malpractice through digital monitoring and personalized question sets.

Call for Reform and Accountability

The 2024 WASSCE scandal has reignited calls for systemic reforms in Nigeria’s examination system. Stakeholders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the National Association of Nigerian Students, have criticized WAEC’s handling of the 2025 English Language exam, with some demanding a resit due to poor conditions.

The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education has also summoned WAEC to address logistical failures and exam leaks, reflecting growing public demand for accountability.

As WAEC continues its investigations and conducts the 2025 WASSCE, the council is actively working to restore confidence in its processes.

The sanctions against 118 schools and the debunking of false cancellation rumors underscore WAEC’s determination to uphold educational integrity, but they also highlight the need for stronger oversight, infrastructure improvements, and collaboration with stakeholders to address the root causes of malpractice.

As the 2nd World Bank-sponsored African Centres of Excellence (ACE) projects in select universities conclude their current phase in Nigeria, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has charged stakeholders of beneficiary institutions to look beyond donor support and focus on sustainability, and transitioning from temporary project status to permanent institutional assets.

The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, who gave the charge at a pre-closure retreat in Abuja, lauded the ACE-Impact initiative, noting that it has elevated Nigeria’s academic institutions into globally competitive hubs of knowledge generation, innovation, and development.

Ribadu disclosed that the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) project in Nigeria is set to conclude its current phase of funding by June 30, and also revealed that the ACE Centres have produced high-quality master’s and PhD graduates, secured international accreditations, attracted major external funding, and driven innovation across key sectors.

In his remarks, the National Project Coordinator of the ACE Project, Joshua Attah, while highlighting the project’s achievements to include the training of master’s and PhD students, regional academic integration, and significant research output, hinted that “the 17 ACE centres in Nigeria have earned $89.1 million through Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) and generated additional funding from local and international sources.”

The ACE initiative, backed by the World Bank and regional governments, has demonstrated the transformative power of targeted investment in higher education and research on the continent.

As the project concludes its current phase, stakeholders are optimistic about its lasting impact on Nigeria’s academic landscape and its potential to drive growth and regional leadership.