The West African Examinations Council has defended the integrity of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination results amid criticisms and claims circulating on social media.
The examination body said it had observed a wave of comments, particularly from content creators and social media commentators, questioning the accuracy and credibility of the recently released results.
WAEC, in a statement issued on Thursday by its Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, stated that the results were produced through rigorous and quality-assured processes that have guided its examinations over the years.
The council said the 2026 WASSCE for School Candidates was conducted in line with its established standard operating procedures and relevant educational policies, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education.
It urged candidates, parents, schools and members of the public to exercise caution over unverified claims concerning the results, noting that anxiety over examination outcomes was understandable, particularly among candidates seeking admission to higher institutions.
The examination body explained that every candidate’s script passed through a multi-tiered system of marking, moderation and auditing.
According to WAEC, the processes are based on standardised marking schemes and supervised by vetted subject experts to ensure fairness and objectivity in the assessment of candidates.
She stated, “The WASSCE for School Candidates, 2026, was conducted strictly in line with WAEC’s established standard operational procedures and in keeping with relevant educational policies in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Education.
While the Council recognises that anxiety surrounding examination outcomes is normal, especially for candidates whose expectation is to proceed further to the next level of their academic pursuits, careful consideration must be applied to discountenance unverified claims on the release of results.
The council also said it had established channels through which candidates and other concerned persons could seek clarification or lodge complaints about their results.
“WAEC maintains clear procedures for addressing queries or grievances. Guidance on query resolutions is available via the Council’s offices nationwide and online channels for information dissemination,” the statement said.
The council advised members of the public who had concerns about the results to contact it directly through its offices and verified communication platforms instead of relying on social media speculation.
It reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the integrity of its assessment processes and protecting the interests of candidates who sat for the 2026 WASSCE.
The PUNCH reports that 61.54 per cent of candidates who sat the 2026 WASSCE for school candidates secured five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics, leaving 38.46 per cent unable to meet the benchmark.
1,834,695 candidates, representing 94.05 per cent of those who sat the examination, had their results fully processed and released, while the results of 116,031 candidates, representing 5.95 per cent, were still being processed due to unresolved issues.
Among the withheld results were candidates sponsored by indebted state governments.