Class Building Collapses On Students Writing WAEC Exams In Taraba [Photos]

Many students taking part in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at Government Secondary School, Namnai, in Taraba State, had a close brush with death on Wednesday evening when their classrooms collapsed during a heavy downpour and strong windstorm.

The students, along with their teachers, corps members, and external supervisors, were inside the school buildings when the structures collapsed.

Locals in the area quickly rushed in to help and managed to rescue those trapped in the rubble.

Several students, who sustained serious injuries, including broken limbs, are now receiving medical care at a local primary healthcare centre in the town.

Alhaji DanAzumi Lauris, a resident who spoke to The PUNCH, said the collapse happened around 6pm, just after the second group of students had begun their exam.

“It was the second batch of students still writing their exams that got trapped. The first set had already finished and left. The rain came suddenly with strong winds, and the old classroom structures couldn’t withstand it,” he said.

He also revealed that the storm didn’t just damage the school, it destroyed several houses in the community as well.

In Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, students also faced serious disruptions due to the downpour. Many had to remain at their exam centres until after 1 am because of the rain, which made it too dangerous to travel home.

To make matters worse, there were delays in the delivery of WAEC papers. In some centres, exams didn’t begin until 8 pm due to the late arrival of the question papers.

Attempts to speak with the State Commissioner for Basic Education, Dr. Augustina Godwin, were unsuccessful, as her phone was unreachable at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, WAEC has apologised for the delay in conducting the 2025 English Language exam on Wednesday, blaming it on stricter efforts to prevent exam malpractice.