The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has withheld the results of 817 candidates who sat for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for Private Candidates, Second Series, over alleged involvement in examination malpractice.
In an official statement released on Thursday, February 26, 2026, WAEC disclosed that a total of 41,767 candidates participated in the examination, comprising 20,036 males and 24,501 females. This figure includes 16 visually impaired and seven hearing impaired candidates. The Council also noted that 2,422 registered candidates were absent from the examination.
According to the statement, the entire results of 348 candidates have been withheld, while the subject results of 469 others have been suspended pending the outcome of investigations into various breaches of examination regulations. Offences under investigation include collusion, impersonation, possession of foreign materials in examination halls, and seeking external assistance.
“The withheld results of candidates will be released or cancelled based on the outcome of investigations into their cases,” the statement read.
WAEC advised affected candidates to check the status of their results on the Council’s dedicated irregularities portal, where details of the alleged infractions and the necessary procedures have been outlined.
Performance in Core Subjects
An analysis of candidate performance in the four core subjects revealed mixed outcomes:
· English Language: 67.43% of candidates obtained grades between A1 and C6, while 11.04% recorded a fail grade of F9.
· Core Mathematics: 49.84% of candidates secured passes, with 27.69% failing.
· Integrated Science: The subject recorded comparatively weaker performance, with 35.00% obtaining passes and 32.00% failing.
· Social Studies: This subject recorded the strongest performance, with 81.21% of candidates earning grades A1 to C6, while 10.42% failed.
Warning to the Public
WAEC also used the opportunity to caution the public against fraudulent activities during the results release period. The Council warned candidates to be wary of individuals who may approach them with promises to upgrade their results for a fee, often requested via mobile money transfers.
“The Council wishes to caution members of the public to be wary of scammers who contact candidates and promise to upgrade their results for a fee payable through mobile money transfers,” the statement emphasised.
WAEC reassured stakeholders that its results database is secure and that all results can be authenticated through its official verification channels. Candidates can access their results online via the WAEC website, while educational institutions are advised to rely on the Council’s verification system to confirm the authenticity of certificates.
