The Head of Nigeria National Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Dr Amos Dangut, has called for a comprehensive review of human and material resources in Nigerian schools. He emphasized that significant improvements are necessary to boost student performance in public examinations.
Concerns Over Ghanaian Students' Dominance
Speaking against the backdrop of Ghanaian students' recent dominance in the 2025 WASSCE results, Dangut noted that this development raises critical questions about the availability of qualified teachers and the adequacy of learning facilities in Nigerian schools. At the 74th yearly national council meeting of WAEC, three Ghanaian students—Huda Suleman, Paula Suwo, and Matthea Andoh—were recognized for achieving the highest cumulative scores among 2,612,830 candidates from The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
Key Questions for Stakeholders
Dangut asked whether schools have enough qualified teachers and whether laboratories and other examination facilities are sufficient, well-equipped, and supported by an environment conducive to teaching and learning. He explained that WAEC's role is to provide examination data and information, while education planners and managers are expected to use this data to formulate policies aimed at improving performance.
Shift in Top Performers
Dangut noted that the recent performance by Ghanaian students represents a shift from previous years, when Nigerian candidates often dominated the list of top-performing students in the WASSCE. He cited the 2025 WASSCE results as an example of the challenges facing Nigerian students. Out of 1,969,313 candidates who sat for the examination, only 754,545 obtained credits and above in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. This figure represents 38.32 percent of the total candidates.
Call for Action
Dangut said the statistics underscore the need for stakeholders to examine the conditions under which teaching and learning occur. He stressed that questions around the quality of teachers, the state of laboratories, the availability of examination facilities, and the general learning environment must be addressed to improve outcomes. The call for better resources comes as WAEC continues to monitor and evaluate educational standards across the region.
