WAEC Reports 2026 WASSCE Results Amid Cheating Concerns

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) released the results of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) last week, indicating a lower number of candidates with withheld results due to alleged examination malpractices compared to 2025, although the figures remain concerning. Amos Dangut, the Head of WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, stated that investigations are ongoing, and findings will be presented to the appropriate Committee of the Council for final decisions.

He attributed many malpractices to the increasing use of mobile phones in examination halls and organized cheating in schools. Dangut mentioned that rogue websites selling fake examination questions have led to arrests.

He emphasized that examination malpractices undermine fairness and distort educational evaluations. Additionally, he pointed out logistical challenges, late school registrations, and inflation as significant issues faced during the examinations.

The persistent malpractices reflect a broader decay in Nigeria's education sector, characterized by inadequate infrastructure and staffing.