Sierra Leone Education Minister addresses 2026 WASSCE result delays

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, has addressed the delay in the release of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results. The delay, occurring more than two months after exams concluded, is attributed to alleged widespread examination irregularities.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has withheld results for thousands of candidates and flagged 169 schools for suspected malpractice, including collusion, the use of unauthorized materials, and possession of mobile phones in exam halls. While some results are available, many students have encountered “result withheld” notices on the WAEC portal, impacting university and college admission prospects.

Minister Sackey also addressed misinformation circulating on social media. He clarified that certain claims regarding the government saving US$1.37 million through registration verification and specific release dates were fabricated or misattributed. He urged the public and media to rely exclusively on official Ministry and WAEC channels for accurate updates.