The Oyo State Government has faulted the conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, decrying a situation where candidates were compelled to sit for key papers late into the night due to delays in the delivery of examination materials.
The state described the development as unacceptable, warning that it exposed students to avoidable risks and psychological stress, while also heightening anxiety among parents and other stakeholders.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola, raised the concern in a statement issued on Friday in Ibadan, citing reports of widespread disruptions across multiple examination centres.
According to him, question papers for Government Objective and Agricultural Science Practical scheduled for Thursday, June 4, arrived several hours behind schedule, in clear violation of the timetable set by the West African Examinations Council.
He disclosed that in many centres, the materials did not arrive until about 6:30 p.m., while some candidates in Ogbomoso and Saki were still writing as late as 8:11 p.m.
Olayiwola further revealed that the Agricultural Science Practical had yet to commence in some centres as of that time, worsening the ordeal faced by candidates.
The commissioner also recalled a similar incident on June 3, when inadequate supply of Mathematics Objective papers forced students to remain in examination halls far beyond the scheduled time.
He said officials of the ministry contacted WAEC’s zonal office over the development, but were informed that the delays were caused by logistical challenges.
While acknowledging that WAEC operates as an international examination body outside the direct control of the state government, Olayiwola urged the council to take immediate corrective measures to prevent a recurrence.
He specifically called for the rescheduling of any paper that fails to reach examination centres on or before 4:00 p.m. on the day of the examination.
According to him, such a step would help safeguard candidates’ wellbeing, minimise exposure to security risks, and reduce the burden on parents.
“The state government remains committed to the welfare and safety of all students and will continue to engage relevant stakeholders to ensure a conducive environment for learning and assessment,” he added.
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