Sierra Leone’s 2026 WASSCE Results Show More Passes, Rising Withheld Cases

Sierra Leone’s 2026 WASSCE results have highlighted both improved pass numbers and continuing concerns over examination integrity and learning outcomes.

Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Conrad Sackey announced the results on 27 October 2026. Figures reported from WAEC show that 200,756 candidates were listed, including 141,810 candidates with results, 47,454 whose results were withheld and 11,492 who were absent.

More five-credit passes, but large number of withheld results

According to an analysis by Dr Mohamed Ibrahim Justice Ganawah, 91,122 candidates achieved five-credit passes. That represents 64.3 percent of candidates with results. The analysis describes this as an increase from the previous year, although it notes that the earlier reported five-credit rate used a different, unstated base and may not be directly comparable.

The 47,454 withheld results represented 23.6 percent of all listed entries and 25.1 percent of candidates who sat the examination. Girls accounted for 26,735 of the candidates whose results were withheld.

The Ministry said the cases fell under 13 categories of suspected irregularity. The reported categories included collusion, sharing answers inside examination rooms and the use of social media or artificial intelligence. The Ministry also suggested that improved detection contributed to the increase, although the analysis said it was not clear whether the rise reflected more malpractice, better detection or both.

Minister Sackey warned that supervisors, invigilators, centre managers, principals and proprietors who facilitate malpractice could face disciplinary action. Repeat offenders could be referred to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

English performance remains weak

The reported Mathematics credit rate rose from 46.71 percent to 62.15 percent, while the English Language credit rate fell from 11.77 percent in 2025 to 9.77 percent in 2026. The earlier year associated with the 46.71 percent Mathematics figure was not specified in the analysis.

Ganawah said the wide gap between the two subjects should be investigated. He suggested that centre-level information could help determine whether the difference is linked to teaching weaknesses, variations in examination papers or possible answer-sharing. The available figures do not establish the cause.

The analysis also pointed to wider education challenges, including teacher availability, teacher qualifications, syllabus coverage and the use of English in classrooms. Government documents cited in the analysis reported public education spending at 2.8 percent of GDP in 2020, 82 senior secondary pupils per qualified teacher and government payment for 46 percent of teachers in approved government and government-assisted schools.

Other cited education data indicated that 64 percent of teachers were qualified for the level they taught, while 25 percent had no teacher training. An education workforce assessment also reported that 360 junior secondary schools had no English specialist in 2019.

Calls for faster review of withheld results

Ganawah called for a prompt but fair review of withheld cases, with published deadlines, individual evidence-based decisions, explanations for cancellations and a right of appeal. He also proposed that universities and colleges keep places open or offer provisional admission to affected candidates.

For the 2027 WASSCE, he recommended stronger controls on phones in examination halls, greater accountability for supervisors, external and rotated supervision, improved paper security and enforcement against malpractice.

“A withheld result is a suspicion, not a verdict,” Ganawah wrote, arguing that cases should be resolved quickly while protecting the rights of candidates.

The analysis also noted a discrepancy between Ministry and WAEC registration figures. The Ministry reported that 219,171 candidates had been uploaded for government-funded examination entry, with 55,174 removed after verification and 163,997 cleared. WAEC was reported to have registered 201,124 candidates. The reason for the difference was not established.