The West African Examinations Council, WAEC has announced the commencement of its first-ever Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination, CB-WASSCE for school candidates, set to begin on April 24 and end on June 20, 2025.
Head of its Nigeria National Office, Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut who made this known during a press briefing held at the WAEC National Office in Yaba, Lagos, highlighted the Council’s preparedness for this year’s examination and the innovative steps being taken to uphold academic integrity and improve service delivery.
Dangut revealed a significant rise in participation, with 1,973,253 candidates registered from 23,554 schools across Nigeria. Female candidates narrowly outnumber their male counterparts 994,025 females (50.37%) and 979,228 males (49.63%), showing a continued trend of gender parity in academic participation.
According to him, candidates will sit for 74 subjects, comprising 196 individual papers, with the support of approximately 26,000 trained senior secondary school teachers serving as supervisors.
He said this year’s examination introduces a paradigm shift in question administration as candidates will now receive unique question variants even within the same paper code, an anti-malpractice strategy leveraging technology to enhance examination integrity.
“We believe in the power of ICT to transform the educational space,” Dr. Dangut stated. “The shift to computer-based testing and adaptive question models represents a forward-thinking approach to modern test administration.”
The Head of National Office reaffirmed the use of the National Identification Number (NIN) as part of the registration process, aligning with federal directives, while ensuring it does not hinder access for candidates.
Amid rising insecurity nationwide, Dr. Dangut acknowledged the logistical challenges but expressed confidence in the Council’s partnership with the Nigeria Police Force and State Governments to provide adequate security.
“We’ve faced security threats in previous years, but with consistent support from law enforcement and education ministries, we’ve managed to conduct successful examinations,” he noted.
He reiterated WAEC’s firm stance against examination malpractice, saying schools, candidates and officials found guilty of infractions will face strict penalties, including derecognition of centres, withdrawal of results, and disciplinary action against officials.
Additionally, he warned against the proliferation of rogue websites and illicit preparatory services, urging parents and students to avoid patronizing such platforms.
According to him, results for WASSCE 2025 will be released 45 days after the last paper, while certificates will be issued within 90 days, accompanied by digital versions.
Dr. Dangut called on schools to strictly observe registration deadlines, citing delays as a recurring challenge that affects the production and logistics of exam materials.
“We are not just conducting exams. We are shaping futures,” said Dr. Dangut. He called for continued support from the media, parents, schools and state ministries to ensure a credible, fair, and safe examination process.
Blacktalker reports that the Final International Timetable has been sent to schools, and WAEC assures all stakeholders that every necessary step is being taken to guarantee a smooth and successful WASSCE season.