Sierra Leone WASSCE 2026 results show high malpractice rates

The 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results in Sierra Leone reveal significant challenges regarding academic integrity and language proficiency. Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, announced the results on October 27, noting that while overall pass rates increased compared to the previous year, 47,454 candidates had their results withheld due to suspected malpractice.

This withholding affects approximately 23.6% of all entries, including 26,735 female students, creating uncertainty for university admissions. Additionally, the results highlight a substantial performance gap in English Language, where only 9.77% of candidates achieved a credit or better, compared to a 62.15% credit rate in Mathematics.