WAEC Faces Public Outrage as Result Portal Crashes Amid Widespread English Failures

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is once again at the centre of controversy following the sudden crash of its result checker portal on Wednesday evening, just days after the release of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results.

The council announced the shutdown via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, attributing the incident to technical issues. In the statement, WAEC assured candidates that access to results would resume within 24 hours, apologizing for the inconvenience.

“WAEC hereby informs the general public that the result checker portal @waecdirect.org is temporarily shut down due to technical issues. However, the Council is working assiduously to ensure that candidates are able to access their results in the next 24 hours, the post read.”

However, this apology did little to calm the growing public outrage sparked by what many have described as a disastrous performance in the 2025 exams—particularly in English Language.

Earlier in the week, WAEC disclosed that only 38.32% of the 1,969,313 candidates obtained credits and above in five subjects, including English and Mathematics — the lowest pass rate in over a decade.

This announcement set social media ablaze with criticism. Many users cited the delayed administration of the English paper, which reportedly started as late as 8 p.m. at some centres on May 28, as a major factor in the failure rate.

One user, @sikimark, wrote: “It is concerning that the English exam, which was delayed at centres nationwide, is now resulting in widespread failures. If JAMB could make amends, we hope you (WAEC) will take steps to rectify the situation. It was a national disgrace.”

Another user, @_samad1, added: “We wrote exams at 8 p.m. We were given one hour or 30 minutes to answer questions meant for two and a half hours. There was no light, and everyone was in a hurry to leave. Please rethink.”

Parents, too, voiced their dissatisfaction, questioning how students who scored excellently in other subjects failed English.

A parent tweeted: “My daughter got five A1 and two B2, only to get D7 in English and Physics (withheld).”

Another user, @DEYHOT_official, pleaded: “WAEC, please I am begging, help us check the English Language exam again. I can’t accept this result. I struggled so hard to get money and pay for this exam, and now you failed me. This result is affecting my future.”

Some candidates expressed hope that their results might change once the portal reopens.

Daniel Ebitimi (@ebitimi_da15726) tweeted: “When the portal is reopened, you will see magic.”

Others alleged deliberate manipulation and revenue-driven motives behind the results.

@JayTrezy wrote: “Just like JAMB, WAEC is gambling with the future of Nigerians. If the majority of the D’s, E’s and F8’s awarded in English are rechecked, WAEC will pay dearly.”

Another user, @pastorbtdaniels, warned: “We reject this year’s results, particularly the English and Maths. WAEC, please do the needful to avoid mass protests.”

The Teacher, @MarquizDejavex, added: “Students wrote English paper in the midnight and yet WAEC failed them.”

@e_okwori tweeted: “The students who were robbed and given abysmal grades in English should tag the presidency, Minister of Education to have an external body revise the whole exam process.”

As of the time of this report, WAEC has not issued any further statements regarding the grading issues or the demands for an independent review. With mounting public pressure and growing distrust, the examination body faces one of its most significant credibility tests in recent years.