MAKENI, 31st October 2026 – The Senate of the University of Makeni (UNIMAK) has resolved to grant provisional admission to applicants who sat the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) but did not obtain a credit pass in English Language.
The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of Senate held on Thursday 29th October 2026, according to a Communiqué signed by the Registrar, Foday Augustine Bangura, dated 31st October 2026.
UNIMAK said the move is a one-off intervention to widen access to higher education while upholding standards, in the wake of the national English Language crisis.
“These resolutions are a standalone decision and shall not serve as a precedent for admission in any subsequent year, including for candidates who may find themselves in similar circumstances,” Senate stated.
What Senate Decided:
1. Who Qualifies: All candidates who obtained credit passes in four (4) or more other subjects, without English Language, will be granted provisional admission into degree programmes of all departments except Law and Nursing. A separate statement on Law and Nursing will be released in due course.
2. Deadline to Pass English: Those admitted must obtain and submit a pass in English Language on or before 31st October 2028. Failure to meet this within two years will affect confirmation of their admission – meaning they will lose the place.
3. Compulsory Remedial Classes: As a condition, all affected students must register for and attend UNIMAK’s remedial classes in English Language.
Senate appointed Mr. Andrew Sesay to head the remedial programme, assisted by Sr. Emily Munasia and Sr. Beatrice Ortserga. Their team will organise the programme and support students to reach the standard required to pass.
4. UNIMAK to Bring WAEC to Campus: To help students, Senate resolved to approach the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to reactivate, if possible, the UNIMAK Examination Centre, so that students may re-sit English Language on campus instead of travelling elsewhere.
5. Division 3 Cases: The Postgraduate School Board will review applicants holding Division 3 on a case-by-case basis during a meeting on Tuesday 3rd November 2026 and recommend suitable candidates to the Registrar on the basis of competency.
Why UNIMAK Took This Step – The 2026 WASSCE Crisis
UNIMAK’s decision comes three days after the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) released the 2026 WASSCE results on Tuesday 28th October.
According to Minister Conrad Sackey:
– 63.33% of candidates failed English Language – nearly two-thirds
– Only 9.77% obtained credit grades A1 – C6 in English, the lowest in three years. In 2024 it was 19.7%, in 2025 it was 11.77%
– 19,464 candidates (9.68%) did not even sit the English paper
– 47,454 results were withheld* over suspected examination malpractice – up from 13,237 in 2025. WAEC says 50% of cases are social media-related offences.
English is the key requirement for university entry in Sierra Leone. National policy requires 5 credits including English for degree programmes and 4 credits including English for diploma. Normally, without English, a candidate cannot enter.
But with only 9.77% passing, universities would have empty lecture halls. The Ministry itself announced emergency in-service crash training for English teachers and a National English Conference held in March 2026.
UNIMAK, which was founded in 2005 as Fatima Institute and gained full university status in 2009, is the first university to announce a formal lifeline. The institution is privately owned by the Catholic Diocese of Makeni and has about 3,500 students on its Azzolini Highway campus.
Other public universities – University of Sierra Leone, Njala, and Ernest Bai Koroma University – are yet to announce their positions. Parents and students are watching whether they will follow UNIMAK’s model.
What Applicants Should Do Now
UNIMAK says enquiries should be directed to the Office of the Registrar, University of Makeni.
The university urged all provisionally admitted students to take full advantage of the remedial programme and to satisfy the English requirement well before the 31st October 2028 deadline.
“Senate wishes to reassure applicants, parents, guardians and the general public of the University’s commitment to fair access and academic excellence,” the Communiqué said.
