WAEC Vigil? Outrage as Nigerian Students Sit for Exams by Phone Torch at 10 pm

Follow

( 0 Followers )

X

Follow

E-mail : *

Follow Unfollow

Nigerians are expressing shock and frustration after disturbing reports and videos surfaced showing students in Katsina and Taraba s States writing their WAEC examinations as late as 9:30 pm—using phone flashlights and rechargeable lamps due to lack of electricity.

The incident, which many online users have dubbed a “WAEC night vigil,” has sparked national outrage, raising serious concerns about the deteriorating state of the country’s education system. Parents were seen sitting outside exam centres in the dark, waiting for their children to finish English papers scheduled for the morning but delayed by over 12 hours.

This comes on the heels of another scandal involving JAMB, which was criticized earlier this month for scheduling entrance exams as early as 6:30 am, forcing teenage candidates to wake up before dawn and risk their safety.

“This is not an exam; it’s mental torture,” one concerned parent stated. “Our children are writing national exams under torchlight in insecure areas. What kind of future are we preparing them for?”

Many have also slammed WAEC for the lack of proper communication and contingency planning, especially in states grappling with power shortages and security concerns. No official statement has been made by WAEC to explain the delays, fueling further speculation and anger.

On social media, users called this latest situation a reflection of the larger systemic failure in Nigeria’s education sector. Critics argue that beyond exam malpractice, the real issue is the failure to provide a safe, reliable, and humane environment for learning and assessment.

“If these are the future leaders, why are they being treated this way?” one user asked on X (formerly Twitter). “WAEC has outdone itself—this isn’t an exam, it’s a survival test.”

With rising concerns and no public explanation from the examination body, many are demanding immediate reforms and accountability from the Federal Ministry of Education.