WAEC faces scrutiny over 2026 examination results

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is facing scrutiny following the release of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results. In Nigeria, school administrators have raised concerns regarding potential grading anomalies and technical glitches associated with the expanded use of Computer-Based Testing (CBT). Specifically, the director of Impact House Model Schools in Ogun State noted a significant disparity between students' high performance in the JAMB examinations—which are entirely CBT-based—and their unexpected decline in WASSCE grades.

In The Gambia, WAEC data shows an improvement in performance compared to the previous year, though challenges remain. Approximately 7.94 percent of the 20,610 registered candidates achieved the benchmark of five credits or more, including English Language and Mathematics. While this is an increase from the 5.11 percent recorded in 2025, the vast majority of students still failed to meet these key academic requirements.

Additionally, WAEC has extended the registration deadline for the 2026 General Certificate Examination (GCE) for private candidates to August 28, 2026. This examination will also be conducted using a Computer-Based Examination format.