June 8 (THEWILL) — The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has attributed the delayed conduct of Mathematics and Agricultural Science papers in some examination centres across Nigeria to a combination of logistical, operational and security-related challenges, including a fatal road accident involving its personnel.
WAEC disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday and signed by the Head of its Public Affairs Department, Mrs Moyosola Adesina, while responding to concerns over the late commencement of some papers during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
According to the examination body, the delay was partly caused by a tragic motor accident involving officials responsible for transporting sensitive examination materials across states.
“The delay resulted partly from a devastating motor accident which claimed three personnel transporting sensitive examination materials interstate, severely disrupting our planned distribution schedule”, the statement read.
Describing the incident as painful and heartbreaking, WAEC said emergency contingency plans were immediately activated to minimise disruptions and ensure that affected candidates eventually sat for their examinations.
“While mourning our fallen colleagues, dedicated staff worked tirelessly around the clock, deploying emergency arrangements that enabled the conduct of examinations across the affected areas”, the council added.
Beyond the accident, WAEC identified several additional factors that complicated its operations and contributed to delays in some centres. These included challenges associated with finalising examination modalities and issues arising from late registration of candidates, which it said impacted the timely preparation and distribution of examination materials.
The council also highlighted prevailing security concerns and civil disturbances as major obstacles to the smooth conduct of the examinations.
According to WAEC, security challenges in some areas, coupled with protests staged against the abduction of schoolchildren, affected movement and hindered the prompt delivery of examination materials to designated centres.
The development had sparked concerns among candidates, parents and stakeholders over the management of the examinations and the implications for students already under pressure during the crucial school-leaving assessment.
However, WAEC assured candidates and stakeholders that measures had been strengthened to avoid a recurrence and ensure the smooth conduct of subsequent papers.
“The council has put effective measures in place to ensure remaining examinations proceed smoothly as demonstrated by improved conduct recorded on June 5”, the statement added.
The examination body further expressed appreciation to education ministries, security agencies and other stakeholders for their support and cooperation throughout the exercise.
WAEC described the institutions and agencies as dependable partners whose assistance had been instrumental in sustaining examination processes despite the challenges encountered.
Reaffirming its commitment to maintaining standards, the council stressed that it remained focused on preserving academic credibility, examination integrity and administrative excellence across all its operations.
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