FREETOWN, 28th October 2026 – The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, has expressed deep concern over the withholding of results for 47,454 candidates in the 2026 WASSCE for School Candidates, warning that the delay could shatter the university dreams of thousands of young Sierra Leoneans.
In a statement issued on Monday 27th October 2026, Hon. Kargbo said he was troubled by the scale of the withheld results announced by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE).
According to figures from the Ministry, the 47,454 affected candidates comprise 26,735 females and 20,719 males – representing nearly a third of all candidates who sat the exams this year.
“Behind each of these results is a young person with ambitions, a family that has made sacrifices, and years of hard work. The uncertainty facing these students could jeopardise their university admission and delay their educational progress,” Hon. Kargbo said.
What Happened?
WAEC released the 2026 WASSCE results on Tuesday 21st October 2026. While over 100,000 candidates had their results released, the Council announced that results for 47,454 candidates were withheld pending investigations into alleged examination malpractice, collusion, and other irregularities.
This is one of the highest numbers of withheld results in recent years. In 2025, about 32,000 results were initially withheld, with most later released after SLEC’s investigation.
A withheld result does not automatically mean guilt. It means the candidate’s script or centre has been flagged by supervisors or markers and is now before the Sierra Leone Examinations Council (SLEC) Investigations Committee.
Kargbo’s Demands
The Opposition Leader, who is also the MP for Bombali District, made three key demands:
1. Clear explanations and timeline: WAEC and MBSSE must tell the public exactly why such a huge number was withheld, and give a definite date for when investigations will end.
2. Fairness and due process: While examination integrity must be protected, suspicion must not be treated as proof. Any cancellation or punishment must be based on evidence and fair hearing.
3. Flexible university admission: The Ministry must engage universities – including Fourah Bay College, Njala, IPAM, COMAHS and Milton Margai Technical University – to create a special admission window for affected students whose results are later cleared, so they do not lose a whole academic year.
He noted that university applications through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation portal are already open, and admission deadlines in November/December may pass before SLEC concludes its work.
“This matter demands urgency, transparency, and compassion. Our young people deserve answers and a fair opportunity to pursue their education. Their future must remain a national priority above political differences,” he said.
Hon. Kargbo is the second senior figure to speak on the matter in two days. On Monday, Education Minister Conrad Sackey explained that candidates with withheld results must wait for SLEC to decide after investigation, and cannot apply for remarking like other candidates.
MBSSE and WAEC are yet to announce when the Investigations Committee will sit. Parents and school authorities across Freetown, Bo, Kenema and Makeni have been calling for faster resolution, with many students reportedly in distress.
Under WAEC rules, if cleared, withheld results are released unconditionally. If found culpable, candidates may have subject results cancelled, entire results cancelled, or be banned from taking WAEC exams for up to three years.
