Parliament Probes WAEC Over 47,000 Withheld Results
Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas has ordered an investigation into the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) following the withholding of more than 47,000 results in the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The directive, issued on Thursday, November 5, 2026, requires the Parliamentary Committee on Basic and Senior Secondary Education and the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) to jointly investigate WAEC, following concerns raised by Members of Parliament over the fate of thousands of affected candidates.
Before issuing the directive, Speaker Thomas gave the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the withheld results, including the reasons for the decision and the measures being taken to address concerns raised by affected candidates. However, following the Minister's initial explanation, the Speaker ruled that a more comprehensive investigation was necessary to establish accountability and address concerns surrounding the conduct of the examinations.
Under the directive, the investigation will examine WAEC's capacity to conduct public examinations, the Ministry's involvement in the recruitment of examination officers, and other issues relevant to the inquiry. The Speaker also directed that the committee the Minister proposed to establish to review the withheld results should include representatives of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and members of the Parliamentary Committee on Basic and Senior Secondary Education to strengthen transparency and public confidence in the process. He further ordered the Ministry to provide Parliament with a clear timeline for completing the investigation.
WAEC is also expected to submit a post-investigation report to Parliament through the Ministry, explaining the reasons for withholding the results and outlining measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Emphasising the importance of protecting pupils' academic futures, Speaker Thomas said Parliament would not remain silent while the future of Sierra Leonean children was jeopardised. He stressed that withholding results without clear evidence was unjust and undermined the credibility of the country's examination system and the Free Quality Education programme.
The investigation is expected to commence immediately, with the Committee and the Ministry required to report back to Parliament.
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