The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has attributed the delayed conduct of some papers in the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to a combination of logistical and operational challenges, including a fatal road accident that claimed the lives of three of its officials.
WAEC disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday by its Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, noting that the incident significantly disrupted the distribution of examination materials across several states.
The accident occurred on Wednesday along the Gombe-Yola highway when a truck collided with a vehicle conveying WAEC personnel transporting sensitive examination materials. The council said the tragedy affected its distribution schedule and delayed the start of some examinations in affected centres.
Due to the disruption, candidates who sat for Mathematics and Agricultural Science papers in parts of Oyo, Lagos and Osun states were forced to write their exams late into the evening. In some centres, candidates used torchlights, mobile phone flashlights and solar-powered lamps, while others moved outside classrooms to access better lighting after sunset.
WAEC explained that the delays were also worsened by other factors, including security challenges, issues linked to finalising examination modalities, and late registration of candidates. It added that protests over the abduction of schoolchildren in some areas also hindered the timely movement of examination materials.
The council said it had introduced contingency measures to prevent a recurrence and assured the public that the remaining papers would be conducted smoothly. It noted that the successful conduct of examinations on June 5 indicated that the earlier challenges had largely been addressed.
Elijah Adeyemi
No comments:
Post a Comment