[REVISION HISTORY]

Sierra Leone 2026 WASSCE results and malpractice dispute

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2026-10-31 12:41 UTC → 2026-11-03 20:03 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The release of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results in Sierra Leone followed significant delays attributed to widespread examination irregularities. Of the 200,756 candidates included in the results submitted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), 91,122 students achieved at least five credits in a single sitting, representing a 64.3 per cent success rate. Alfred Farwell Thorpe of Sierra Leone Grammar School was identified as the top-performing candidate, securing six A1 grades across eight subjects. Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, announced the results on October 27, noting that while overall pass rates increased, 47,454 candidates had their results withheld due to suspected malpractice. This represents approximately 23.6 per cent of all entries, including 26,735 females and 20,719 males. ~~Social media-related offenses accounted for over 50 per cent of these cases.~~ The number of withheld results ~~also highlighted~~ marks a ~~performance gap~~ significant increase from the 13,237 cases recorded in ~~English Language, where only 9.77 per cent~~ 2025. Suspected irregularities include collusion, the use of ~~candidates achieved a credit or better, compared to a 62.15 per cent credit rate in Mathematics.~~ unauthorized materials, mobile phone possession, and social media-related offenses. WAEC also flagged 169 schools for suspected malpractice. In response, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, has called on WAEC and the Ministry to urgently resolve the matter. Kargbo warned that the uncertainty threatens students' ability to secure tertiary admissions and emphasized that “candidates should not be presumed guilty based on suspicion alone.” ~~He urged authorities~~ Following these concerns, the Parliamentary Committee on Basic and Senior Secondary Education summoned Minister Sackey to ~~provide~~ address the situation. The results also highlighted a ~~definitive timeline for resolution~~ performance gap in English Language, where only 9.77 per cent of candidates achieved a credit or better, compared to ~~prevent students from losing an academic year.~~ a 62.15 per cent credit rate in Mathematics. Furthermore, 368 candidates from five private institutions were excluded due to an outstanding debt of NLe 114,093 owed to WAEC.

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