Freetown – The National Commission for Children (NCC) has expressed deep concern over the withholding of National Primary School Examination (NPSE) results for pupils from dozens of primary schools, affecting nearly 1,900 children nationwide.
Official figures released by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) show that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) set aside the results of 1,927 candidates in the 2026 NPSE. The main reasons cited are the failure of some schools to submit continuous assessment scores (CAS) on time and suspected examination malpractice.
The issue, according to the NCC, stems from negligence by school authorities who did not meet the mandatory requirement for the release of results.
Deputy Commissioner Henry Mustapha Sheku condemned the actions of the schools involved, stressing that education is both a legal and moral obligation under Sierra Leone’s child rights laws and international conventions.
“Education is a fundamental right that all children should enjoy as it largely ensures their empowerment and development. The situation where duty bearers neglect their roles and as such having grave impact on right holders should never be encouraged,” Mr Sheku stated.
The Commission cited Article 28 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 11 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and Section 11 of Sierra Leone’s Child Rights Act 2025 (the best interest of the child principle) as clear guarantees of children’s right to education.
MBSSE Minister Conrad Sackey announced the withheld results during the official release of the 2026 NPSE outcomes. He gave defaulting school administrators a short grace period, until the Thursday following the announcement, to submit the missing continuous assessment scores or face disciplinary action.
Officials expressed optimism that many of the set-aside results would be cleared and released once the required data is provided.
The overall 2026 NPSE pass rate stood at 78.2 per cent, with 125,498 candidates scoring at or above the cut-off mark of 230. An 11-year-old girl, Davis Bethany of Tower Hill Kindergarten and Primary School, recorded the highest aggregate T-score of 351.
The NCC has urged school authorities to comply fully with the MBSSE deadline to ensure the swift release of all affected results. It further recommended penalties for schools found to have deliberately caused the problem and called for stricter monitoring to prevent a recurrence.
The Commission empathised with the affected children and their families, encouraging parents and guardians to provide psychosocial support during what may be a difficult period. Officials also commended the Ministry for its intervention and pledged to continue monitoring the situation closely to ensure remedial measures are taken.
