Sierra Leone students face withheld exam results
One in four candidates had results withheld for suspected malpractice, fewer than one in 10 passed English.
Sierra Leone's 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results show that 47,454 candidates had their results withheld for suspected malpractice. The Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Mr Conrad Sackey, announced the results on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
The Justice Reform Initiative-SL (JRI-SL) has condemned the mass withholding of results, calling it a threat to students' academic futures and university admission chances. The organisation gave the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) a 21-day ultimatum to address the issue or face legal action.
JRI-SL urged WAEC and MBSSE to establish a transparent verification process for alleged infractions and release results for candidates without direct evidence of cheating. The organisation also called for a national dialogue on recurring concerns about student performance in English Language.
Why it mattersThousands of Sierra Leonean students face uncertainty regarding their academic progression and university admissions due to withheld examination results.