Lagos students write English exam under torchlight at 11:45pm

Concerns over examination standards and student welfare have surfaced after a group of Lagos students were forced to write their English examination under torchlight at approximately 11:45pm.

The shocking incident, captured in a viral video circulating on social media, reportedly took place during the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The footage shows students hunched over their exam papers, relying on torchlights and phone lights in near darkness to complete the test—well beyond the conventional examination hours.

Parents, educators, and civil society groups have condemned the development, calling it a gross failure of planning and an infringement on the students’ right to a conducive learning environment. Many critics also raised concerns about the mental and physical toll of such late-night assessments on young candidates.

A parent, who spoke anonymously, described the situation as “inhumane and unacceptable,” blaming the examining body and school authorities for poor coordination.

While the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has yet to release an official statement on the matter, education stakeholders are demanding a full investigation into how such an irregular situation was allowed to occur, and whether it may affect the integrity of the examination.

Advocates for educational reform have called on the Lagos State Ministry of Education to intervene immediately and ensure no student is subjected to similar conditions in future assessments.

The incident has once again highlighted systemic gaps in the nation’s public education system and raised pressing questions about the fairness and preparedness surrounding national exams.