Freetown — The Parliamentary Committee on Basic and Senior Secondary Education has summoned the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, to appear before it and explain the high failure rate in English Language and the large number of withheld results in the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The committee is scheduled to sit on Thursday, 5 November 2026. Minister Sackey and officials of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) are expected to attend.
Committee Chairperson Hon. Rebecca Yei Kamara has urged fellow Members of Parliament to exercise patience and allow the Minister to present his account before the committee.
The summons follows strong public concern after the release of the results. According to official figures, 63.33 per cent of candidates failed English Language, with only 9.77 per cent obtaining credit grades (A1–C6). At the same time, results of 47,454 candidates — 26,735 females and 20,719 males — were withheld over suspected examination malpractice.
The 2026 figures show a sharp rise in withheld results compared with 13,237 in 2025. WAEC and the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) have linked the increase partly to stricter monitoring. Suspected irregularities fall under 13 categories, with social media-related offences accounting for the largest share (about half of the cases), followed by collusion and the use of mobile phones.
Overall performance presented a mixed picture. A total of 201,124 candidates from 1,043 schools registered. Results were released for 200,756 candidates from 1,038 schools, while 368 candidates from five private schools were excluded over unpaid fees. Of those with released results, 91,122 candidates (64.3 per cent) obtained at least five credits in a single sitting. The overall paper pass rate stood at 81.4 per cent. Mathematics performed better, with 62.15 per cent of candidates achieving a credit or higher.
English Language remains a critical barrier for many students seeking university admission, as a credit in the subject is normally required.
The Ministry has announced plans for emergency in-service training for English teachers in response to the poor results. Some institutions, including the University of Makeni, have indicated provisional arrangements for candidates who meet other requirements but lack an English credit.
Minister Sackey has previously stated that withholding does not equal guilt and that WAEC will investigate each case. Some results may still be released after the probe; others may be cancelled. Candidates can check their status on the WAEC Sierra Leone irregularities portal.
The committee’s appearance on Thursday is expected to focus on the causes of the English failure, the sharp rise in malpractice cases, steps being taken to protect the integrity of future examinations, and measures to support affected candidates and improve teaching and learning outcomes across the country.
