WAEC DEFENDS WITHHELD RESULTS POLICY AMID CONTROVERSY OVER STUDENT’S DELAYED CERTIFICATE
Lagos | June 13, 2025
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has denied allegations of arbitrarily withholding students’ results, responding to a viral report about a mother’s plea for her son’s delayed 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) certificate.
The Controversy
A national newspaper recently published an emotional appeal titled “Release My Son’s WAEC Certificate Now, He’s Slipping into Depression – Mother Cries Out.” The report highlighted the distress of a parent whose son allegedly could not secure university admission due to WAEC’s failure to release his result.
However, in a press statement on Thursday, WAEC’s Acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, described the report as “misleading” and reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to due process.
WAEC’s Official Response
The Council clarified that:
✔ Results are only withheld when there is a formal report of examination malpractice or irregularities.
✔ Affected candidates are notified through official channels and given opportunities to defend themselves.
✔ A dedicated portal exists for students to respond to malpractice allegations before final decisions are made.
“The Council does not withhold candidates’ results arbitrarily,” Adesina stated. “When malpractice is reported, investigations are conducted transparently, and students are duly informed.”
Parents and Educators React
Despite WAEC’s explanation, some stakeholders argue that the process lacks empathy. The aggrieved mother in the initial report insisted:
“We’ve checked the portal repeatedly—no notification. If there’s an issue, why not contact us directly instead of leaving us in the dark?”
Education advocate Dr. Femi Ogunlana weighed in:
“While WAEC must maintain exam integrity, prolonged delays without clear communication can harm students’ mental health and academic futures.”
WAEC’s Stance on Transparency
The Council emphasized that:
Examination rules are communicated in registration materials, briefing notes, and press releases.
All malpractice cases are handled under established regulations.
It remains committed to “world-class assessment standards.”
What’s Next?
WAEC urged affected candidates to:
Check the Notice of Examination Malpractice portal for updates.
Submit representations if accused of misconduct.
Await final decisions after investigations.
Meanwhile, parents and school administrators continue to call for:
🔹 Faster resolution of malpractice cases
🔹 Direct communication with affected families
🔹 More compassionate handling of student grievances
Final Word from WAEC
“As a law-abiding organization, we follow due process in all activities. Our goal is to uphold exam credibility while supporting students’ educational progress,” the statement concluded.
