Oyo state government criticizes WAEC for delayed distribution of WASSCE exams, calls for timetable adjustment

The Oyo State Government has voiced its disapproval of the delays that marred the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the state, which led to unnecessary hardship for students and parents.

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State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Olusegun Olayiwola, conveyed the government's concerns on Friday through a statement released in Ibadan, highlighting the disruptions caused by the delays.

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According to Olayiwola, reports from various examination centres on Thursday revealed that essential materials arrived several hours behind schedule, contradicting the approved timetable set by WAEC.

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Specifically, question papers for Government Objective and Agricultural Science Practical, scheduled for June 4, failed to arrive at many centres until approximately 6:30 p.m.

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As late as 8:11 p.m., some centres in Ogbomoso and Saki were still administering the government paper, while the agricultural science practical had yet to commence.

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Olayiwola noted that a similar issue occurred on June 3, when an insufficient supply of mathematics objective papers led to the examination running late into the night.

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Ministry officials, who contacted the WAEC zonal coordinator, were informed that logistic challenges were to blame for the delays, according to Olayiwola.

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The commissioner urged WAEC to take proactive measures to prevent such incidents from happening again, acknowledging that as an international body, WAEC operates outside the state's direct control.

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The state government, through the commissioner, requested that WAEC reschedule any paper that cannot be delivered to examination centres by 4:00 p.m. on the scheduled examination day.

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This measure, the commissioner explained, would help shield candidates from undue stress, ensure their well-being, and alleviate anxiety for parents and other stakeholders.

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The commissioner reaffirmed the state government's commitment to the welfare of students and pledged to continue collaborating with stakeholders to create a safe and conducive environment for learning and examinations.