WAEC Results Under Fire as Alleged Irregularities Raise Concerns for Children
The results of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) have been called into question after complaints from schools and education stakeholders about some inconsistencies in the grading of the exams and technical issues associated with the new Computer Based Testing (CBT) system.
High performing children were given unexpectedly poor grades in subjects such as Mathematics and English Language, some school administrators claim, despite their good grades and performance in other exams.
The Director of Impact House Model Schools, Mowe, Ogun State, Sam Abdulazeez, said that his school had a significant disparity between the performance of the students in UTME and the performance in the WASSCE in 2026. He said that over 30 of the school’s 69 UTME candidates scored more than 300, while only about three or four candidates got A1 in Mathematics in WASSCE.
The school also said it experienced technical problems during a WAEC mock examination, noting that the systems were unable to connect to the server of the examination body. The school was then allowed to take the test on paper.
The question for a kid-focused site is what occurs when examination conflicts impact a kid’s educational future.
The WASSCE result can affect admission to the university, scholarships and career prospects. Two children who were admitted to the University of Ibadan were said to have been recorded as having failed Mathematics and English in the just released results by one administrator.
Education stakeholders have therefore demanded more transparency and an independent investigation in the event of a credible complaint. One legal team has asked for electronic examination records to be kept and an independent audit of the CBT platform.
WAEC, however, has maintained the integrity of the results as they were marked at multiple levels, moderated and audited. It advised candidates, parents and schools to refrain from making unverifiable claims and to submit grievances through its official channels.
However true or untrue the allegations may be, children should not suffer for the failure of the examination system. A response must focus on their right to a fair assessment, a clear review process and a chance to continue their education.
