Fresh concerns have emerged over the conduct of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) after candidates in several parts of Nigeria were reportedly forced to write examination papers late into the night due to delays in the distribution of examination materials.
The affected candidates were scheduled to sit for their examinations during the day but experienced prolonged waiting periods after supervisors and invigilators failed to receive the required question papers and materials on time.
The delays eventually pushed some examinations into the evening and nighttime hours.
Reports indicate that students, parents, and school administrators expressed frustration over the situation, describing it as stressful and potentially detrimental to candidates' performance.
Many candidates reportedly spent several hours waiting at examination centres before the papers arrived.
The latest incident comes just weeks after similar disruptions were recorded during the ongoing examination season, raising concerns about logistics, coordination, and the overall management of the examination process by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
Parents and education stakeholders questioned the appropriateness of conducting examinations at night, citing security concerns, transportation challenges, and the physical strain placed on students who had already spent much of the day waiting.
Some parents reportedly remained at examination centres until late hours to ensure the safety of their children.
School officials also expressed concern that prolonged delays could affect candidates' concentration and performance.
According to educators, examinations are designed to be conducted under conditions that allow students to perform at their best, and unexpected disruptions may negatively impact outcomes.
Responding to previous complaints about delayed examinations, WAEC had attributed some of the challenges to efforts aimed at preventing examination malpractice and question paper leakages.
The council has maintained that measures to protect the integrity of the examination process sometimes require additional security protocols during the movement of sensitive materials.
However, stakeholders argue that stronger planning and logistics management are needed to ensure that anti-malpractice measures do not create undue hardship for candidates.
Education advocates have called on the examination body to review its operational procedures and strengthen coordination with examination centres nationwide.
The recurring incidents have also sparked discussions on the need for greater use of technology and improved examination delivery systems capable of reducing dependence on last-minute physical distribution of materials.
As the examination season continues, many parents and school administrators are urging WAEC to address the logistical challenges quickly to prevent further disruptions and ensure that candidates can sit for their examinations under safe and conducive conditions.
The council is expected to review reports from affected centres as concerns continue to mount over the repeated delays and their impact on thousands of candidates across the country.