Disability-inclusive Expert Laments Non-release of WAEC Result of Blind students

A disability rights advocate, Dr. Adebukola Adebayo, has raised concerns over the delay in releasing the May/June 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results of blind candidates.

Adebayo, who is visually impaired and works in disability-inclusive development, governance and public policy, said the results of blind candidates had yet to be released nearly two weeks after the results of other candidates were made available.

In a statement issued on Friday, he warned that the delay could prevent affected candidates from completing admission processes into universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other tertiary institutions.

According to Adebayo, some institutions have already set deadlines for candidates to upload and verify their WAEC results, putting blind candidates at risk of losing admission opportunities through no fault of their own.

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He cited the University of Ilorin as an example, noting that its deadline for uploading and verifying WAEC results on its admission portal was 3:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2026.

“For example, any of these blind candidates whose choice is University of Ilorin will miss his/her admission into that university because the University of Ilorin is closing the uploading and verification of WAEC results into its admission portal by 3:00pm, Friday, August 21, 2026.”

Adebayo argued that the delayed release of examination results for blind candidates was not a new development, describing it as a recurring issue that has affected visually impaired students for decades.

“The delay or late release of the WAEC results of blind candidates is not new. This has been the practice for decades.”

He said the consequences could extend beyond missed admission deadlines, noting that some blind candidates had previously lost opportunities to proceed to tertiary institutions because their examination results were not released on time.

Adebayo also expressed concern about the psychological impact of the situation on blind students, particularly those who already face accessibility and inclusion challenges throughout their education.

“Due to the psychological effect of this, many blind students have either struggled to pursue tertiary education or lost out completely on the opportunity to possess tertiary education.”

He maintained that there was no justification for treating the results of blind candidates differently, especially because they sat for the examination during the same period as their sighted colleagues.

“Blind students sit for their WAEC exams at the same time with their sighted colleagues. No reasons will be acceptable for the delay in the release of WAEC results of blind candidates.”

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The disability advocate described the situation as discriminatory and unfair, arguing that delayed results could deny blind candidates the same educational opportunities available to other students.

“This situation is considered unjust, discriminatory, unfair and unkind to blind students who put in so much to go through secondary education despite all the inclusivity and accessibility challenges they are confronted with.”

Adebayo further argued that the delay amounted to a violation of the right of blind candidates to equal educational opportunities.

“Delay in the release of WAEC results of blind students is an abuse of their rights to equal educational opportunity enjoyed by their sighted counterparts. Justice delayed is justice denied!”

He also referenced Nigeria’s legal and policy frameworks protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, including the 1999 Constitution, the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, the National Policy on Inclusive Education and the National Policy on Education.

“Every WAEC examination results of blind candidates delayed is a total denial of the rights of these candidates to equal educational opportunity, equity, fairness and justice.”

Adebayo therefore called on the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to release the outstanding results of all blind candidates who participated in the May/June 2026 WASSCE without further delay.

He also urged the examination body to ensure that the scripts of blind candidates are carefully marked and graded to prevent errors in the process of releasing their results.

“WAEC should ensure that all the examination scripts of blind candidates should be properly and carefully marked and graded to avoid any errors.”

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Adebayo further appealed to WAEC to ensure that candidates who have spoken out about the delay are not subjected to any form of victimisation.

“It is also important that WAEC should do all within its powers to ensure that blind candidates are not victimised due to this public demand for equity, fairness, accountability, transparency and responsibility.” 

He urged the examination body to make the protection and promotion of the rights of blind candidates a priority in its examination and result-release processes. “WAEC should ensure that the rights of blind candidates are protected and promoted in all its conduct.” - He added