Oyo State has raised alarm over plans to hold the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination at night, saying the schedule puts students at risk and violates their right to fair examination conditions.
The state government wrote to the West African Examinations Council expressing concern that material delays have forced WAEC to push exam papers into evening hours. This arrangement, Oyo argued, compromises student concentration and exposes teenagers to unnecessary safety hazards during night travel to and from examination centres.
In the letter, Oyo's education authorities called on WAEC to find an alternative timetable that keeps all exams within standard daytime hours. The state said it would not accept a schedule that prioritises administrative convenience over the wellbeing and performance of candidates.
Oyo is not alone in this complaint. Other states and education stakeholders have also flagged concerns about the late-night scheduling, viewing it as an unfair burden on students who must stay alert during unconventional hours. The issue stems from WAEC's struggle to source examination materials on time, a recurring challenge that has affected previous examination cycles.
WAEC has not yet responded to Oyo's demand, but the council faces mounting pressure from multiple fronts to adjust the 2026 timetable before registration closes. The examination body must balance the reality of its supply chain difficulties against the legitimate concerns of education authorities and parents who say night exams disadvantage their students.
Oyo State has signaled it will escalate the matter if WAEC does not act. Officials said the state may involve the Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders to force a resolution before the examination cycle begins.
