FREETOWN, 2nd November 2026 – A 78-year-old Sierra Leonean candidate, Pa Lamin Turay, who sat the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), is among thousands of candidates whose results have been withheld by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), sparking nationwide conversation about lifelong learning and examination integrity.
Pa Turay, whose educational journey has inspired many, returned to formal schooling in 2019 at age 71. After completing Junior Secondary School, he proceeded to Senior Secondary School and finally sat the May-June WASSCE this year as a regular school candidate.
His reported grades circulating on social media are:
CRS – C6, Economics – E8, Government – B3, History – C5, Literature – D7, English Language – F9, Mathematics – C6, Agricultural Science – C6, Health Science – F9.
These grades have not been independently verified* and WAEC’s online portal for affected candidates currently shows “Result Withheld” for all subjects.
Pa Turay’s case comes at a time when WAEC has withheld the results of 47,454 candidates – 26,735 females and 20,719 males – representing 23.6% of the 200,756 candidates whose results were submitted to Government, according to Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) Conrad Sackey on 27th October.
Minister Sackey stressed: “Withholding does not mean guilty. WAEC investigates each case individually. Some results will be released, others may be cancelled.”
WAEC’s summary document of 47,525 suspected cases lists 13 categories:
– Social media-related offences – 23,980 cases (50.4%)
– Collusion – 8,116 cases
– Mobile phones – 6,005 cases
– Possession of written materials – 3,319 cases
– Others include same handwriting, two answer booklets, impersonation, assault on invigilators, etc.
The huge figure – up from 13,237 withheld in 2025 – has led to petitions and calls from Opposition Leader Hon. Abdul Kargbo for WAEC to conclude investigations before university admissions close.
Candidates can check status at www.waec-sierra-leone.org/irregularities and must report to WAEC with their school principal.
Age and WASSCE: Is There a Limit?
There is no upper age limit to sit WASSCE. However, WAEC clarified in May 2025 that the May-June school-based WASSCE is strictly for students with continuous assessment (CASS) scores from SSS1-SSS3.
Adult learners who left school long ago are supposed to register for the Private WASSCE (Nov/Dec – WASSCE for Private Candidates).
That rule led to controversy last year when 45-year-old Saminatu Tarawally of Bishop Jane Middleton School had her entire nine subjects withheld after Deputy Minister Mamusu Massaquoi found her writing the school exam. WAEC called it malpractice because she had no CASS record.
Pa Turay’s situation is different, according to his school: he has been enrolled continuously since 2019, has CASS records, and attended classes daily like any SSS3 pupil. His school insists his registration is legitimate. WAEC is yet to say whether his centre is among those flagged for collusion or mass malpractice.
An Inspiration Beyond Results
Regardless of the outcome, Pa Lamin Turay’s story has touched Sierra Leone.
In a country where only 9.77% of candidates got credit in English Language in 2026 and 63.33% failed English, many older citizens have dropped out. Yet Pa Turay walked from home to school daily, in uniform, sat with teenagers, and took all nine papers.
His reported results – with 3 credits (CRS C6, Govt B3, History C5, Maths C6, Agric C6) even if provisional – show that adult learners can still compete.
