MBSSE and Partners Announce Key Updates for 2026 WASSCE: 20 New Subjects to Run Alongside 17 Old Ones

The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Teachers’ Union (SLTU), the National Union of Private Schools (NUPS), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the Civil Rights Coalition (CRC), and the Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (CPSS), has announced major updates regarding the conduct of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates.

The Ministry confirmed that the upcoming exams will feature subjects from both the old and new senior secondary school curricula, marking a critical transition period in Sierra Leone’s education system.

According to the joint statement, this decision follows a high-level town hall meeting held on September 25, 2025, chaired by the Chief Education Officer (CEO) and attended by senior officials from the MBSSE, Teaching Service Commission (TSC), SLTU, NUPS, CPSS, WAEC, Members of Parliament, and other education stakeholders.

Key Decisions from the Meeting

The 2026 WASSCE will be the first to examine subjects under the newly developed senior secondary school curriculum, aligned with the Government’s Free Quality School Education (FQSE) programme.

A total of 20 subjects will be drawn from the new curriculum.

17 subjects will continue under the old curriculum during the transition phase.

Both curricula will run concurrently from 2026 to 2027 to ensure a smooth adjustment process.

Mathematics and English Language remain compulsory for all school candidates across both curricula.

Examination Monitoring

The MBSSE, CPSS, and WAEC will jointly oversee and monitor the 2026 WASSCE to ensure transparency, fairness, and adherence to established standards.

The Ministry clarified that the Chief Education Officer is responsible for recommending schools for code assignments, while WAEC maintains full authority to approve examination centres.

Verification and Registration

During initial verification, the Ministry discovered 124,000 duplicated entries for the 2026 exams. To prevent recurrence, a name-based registration system has been introduced to replace the previous number-based system.

All schools are required to submit verified candidate lists to their District Directors by June, with final submissions to MBSSE Headquarters by July each year.

Private Candidates

Acknowledging recent challenges faced by private WASSCE candidates, the Ministry assured that identified issues including school omissions during registration have been addressed. The CEO will soon hold a special engagement with private school heads to improve coordination and compliance with registration timelines.

Capacity Building

To ensure smooth implementation, the Directorate of Curriculum and Research will conduct nationwide training for school heads and teachers on the Continuous Assessment Score Sheet (CASS) and other digital processes. The training aims to improve data accuracy and strengthen school accountability.

Sanctions and Accountability

The MBSSE reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on malpractice and non-compliance. Principals or school authorities found breaching registration or examination procedures will face disciplinary action following due investigation.

Examination Timelines

WAEC has officially published the Calendar of Events for the 2026 examination cycle as follows:

CASS Year 1: October 1 – December 31, 2025

Birch Registration System (BRS): January 1 – February 28, 2026

CASS Year 2: March 1 – April 30, 2026

CASS Year 3: May 1 – June 30, 2026

The Ministry emphasized that no further extensions will be granted beyond these deadlines.

In their joint statement, the MBSSE, SLTU, NUPS, CPSS, and WAEC reaffirmed their collective commitment to improving the quality, integrity, and credibility of public examinations in Sierra Leone.

They urged all teachers, school leaders, parents, and pupils to work together to ensure a successful transition to the dual curriculum and to maintain a malpractice-free examination process.

The Ministry also dismissed circulating rumours suggesting that English Language has been removed from the new curriculum, describing such claims as “completely unfounded.”