Reports have emerged that students sitting for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) in parts of Nigeria were compelled to write their papers at night due to persistent power outages.
The situation, which has sparked outrage among parents, educators, and students, highlights the ongoing electricity crisis plaguing the country.
According to accounts shared on X and verified by local news sources, students in several examination centers, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, resorted to using candles, torchlights, and phone flashlights to complete their exams after power cuts left halls in darkness.
In some cases, students were reportedly writing critical subjects like Mathematics and English Language as late as 8 p.m., under hazardous and stressful conditions.
“My daughter was writing her WAEC exams with a candle last night,” one parent posted on X. “How can we expect our children to perform well under such conditions? This is a national embarrassment!” Another user shared a photo of students huddled around dim lights, captioned, “Nigeria’s future is literally writing in the dark. Shame on our leaders.”
The power outages, attributed to the collapse of Nigeria’s national grid—reportedly the 12th such incident in 2025—have exacerbated challenges for students already grappling with exam pressure.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has faced criticism for its inability to ensure stable power supply, particularly during critical periods like the WAEC exams, which run from April to June.
Education stakeholders have condemned the situation, calling it a symptom of broader systemic failures. “Forcing students to write exams at night is unacceptable,” said Dr. Amina Yusuf, a Lagos-based education consultant. “It compromises the integrity of the examination process and puts undue stress on candidates. The government must prioritize power supply to schools and exam centers.”
The WAEC body has not issued an official statement on the matter, but sources within the council indicate that some centers were forced to extend exam hours due to delays caused by power outages. This follows reports of similar disruptions during the 2024 WAEC and JAMB examinations, where students faced delays and cancellations.
Public discourse on X has linked the issue to the recent controversy over the National Assembly’s N393.29 billion budget for streetlights, with many questioning why such funds were not directed toward stabilizing the power sector. “We’re spending billions on streetlights, yet our children are writing WAEC in the dark,” one user remarked.
The Federal Ministry of Education has promised to investigate the reports and work with state governments to provide emergency power solutions, such as generators, to affected centers. However, with the exams ongoing, students and parents are demanding immediate action to prevent further disruptions.
This incident adds to growing concerns about Nigeria’s education system, already strained by inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages, and a high number of out-of-school children.
As calls for reform intensify, the image of students writing exams by candlelight has become a powerful symbol of the country’s challenges, fueling demands for accountability and urgent investment in critical sectors.
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