Shocking: List of Schools with Withheld WAEC Results 2025

Major Reasons for Withheld Results

1. Examination Malpractice: This is the most cited reason. Candidates caught using mobile phones in the exam hall, impersonation, and collusion are flagged for malpractice.
2. Examination Irregularities: This includes inconsistencies in answer scripts, missing scripts, or tampered documents.
3. Unpaid Fees: Some state governments, like Zamfara and Rivers State, have in past years failed to settle registration fees for their school candidates, leading to delayed releases.

List of Schools with Withheld WAEC Results (2025)

While WAEC does not always publicly release a full list, several institutions have been highlighted for involvement in malpractice cases:

• Kings College, Lagos State
• CMS Grammar School, Lagos
• Igbobi College, Yaba
• Community Senior High School, Ikorodu
• Government Secondary School, Port Harcourt (Rivers State)
• Unity Secondary School, Zamfara

These schools were either derecognised or issued strong warnings by WAEC following an investigation by the Nigeria Examinations Committee.

WAEC Release and Derecognition Policies

WAEC reserves the right to withhold or cancel results pending investigation. According to the West African Examination Council, schools involved in repeated violations risk losing their recognition status. In 2025, at least nine secondary school education institutions were affected.

Categories of Affected Candidates

• School Candidates: Those enrolled in government or private schools.
• Private Candidates: Also known as external candidates or WAEC GCE candidates.
• Male Candidates vs. Female Candidates: WAEC does not discriminate by gender in result release, but reports show a slight increase in irregularities among male candidates in the 2025 exam.

Common Examination Malpractices Reported

• Bringing foreign materials into the examination hall.
• Copying from neighbours.
• Smuggling answers written outside the exam venue.
• Collusion among students and teachers.

WAEC continues to identify such reported cases with the help of its invigilators and supervisors.

What Should Affected Candidates Do?

1. Stay Calm: Withheld results do not automatically mean cancellation.
2. Check WAEC Portal: Visit the official website to fill in the required fields and check your result listing.
3. Wait for the Outcome of Investigations: The National Office of WAEC usually releases withheld results after due process.
4. Contact Your School: Especially for school candidates, communication with your principal is essential.

Role of the Nigerian Examinations Committee

The Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC) is WAEC’s highest decision-making body on examination matters in Nigeria. It reviews all malpractice cases and decides whether to release or cancel results.

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Consequences for Implicated Schools

WAEC may derecognise schools with a history of malpractice. Such schools may no longer be used as centres for future exams. In extreme cases, WAEC has involved the High Court for prosecution.

WAEC GCE Candidates

For private candidates writing the WAEC GCE, cases of withheld results are lower. In 2024, only 3.96% of private candidate results were held.

Examination Body Reforms

To prevent irregularities, WAEC introduced serialised question papers, stricter invigilation, and technological monitoring.

Impact of Withheld Results on Students

• Delays in university admission.
• Missed scholarship deadlines.
• Anxiety and mental stress.

Key Statistics from the 2025 WASSCE Results

• Total Candidates: Over 1.9 million
• Withheld Results: 192,089
• School Candidates: The Majority of those affected
• Private Candidates: Less than 4% withheld
• Outstanding Results: Minimal cases reported due to improved logistics

International Implications

Some students applying to schools in the United States and UK reported delays in processing due to the non-release of their WAEC results. Institutions often request secured credit from candidates.

Final Thoughts

The West African Examinations Council plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity of the Senior School Certificate Examination. Schools must uphold best practices to avoid being listed among schools with withheld results. Students and parents should remain vigilant and avoid practices that may result in a held result.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is the difference between withheld and cancelled results? A withheld result is under investigation and may still be released. A cancelled result is permanently nullified due to confirmed malpractice.

Q2: When will WAEC release held results? WAEC typically releases them after NEC meetings conclude investigations.

Q3: What happens if my result remains held after appeal? You may lose the exam session, and in serious cases, be barred for up to 2 years.

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Conclusion

WAEC’s commitment to curbing examination malpractice is crucial to maintaining standards in secondary school education across Nigeria and other member nations. The 2025 WASSCE results reveal that while progress has been made, issues like exam malpractice and examination irregularities persist.

We encourage all stakeholders—students, schools, parents, and the examination body—to work together toward transparent and fair assessments.