2026 National Exam Results Reveal Wide Success Gaps Across Africa and Europe

The 2026 school‑leaving examinations produced mixed outcomes across several countries. In Mali, the national baccalauréat recorded a 34.23 % pass rate, with Ibrahim Badou of Goundam topping the list with an 18.18 average. Morocco reported an overall baccalauréat success rate of 81.6 %, noting higher pass rates for girls (84.5 %) than boys (78.6 %). France saw regional peaks: the Manche department reached a 93.4 % overall baccalauréat pass rate, while the Lozère department achieved a 95.4 % rate across all streams. Algeria announced the opening of university pre‑registration for new baccalauréat graduates and introduced new specialty tracks, including AI‑related programmes. Gabon’s BEPC (junior secondary certificate) showed a 66.27 % national pass rate among 40,406 candidates. In Guinea, the teachers’ union warned of systemic fraud in the national exams, citing budget opacity and irregularities in centre selection. Madagascar detailed tightened security for baccalauréat exam papers, with multiple subject proposals vetted by regional education offices. Senegal’s provisional baccalauréat results were alarming, with only 26.45 % of 172,460 examinees passing. The various reports underline stark disparities in exam performance, ongoing reforms, and concerns over exam integrity in the region.