Steep Decline in WASSCE English Results
Sierra Leone’s WASSCE English Language performance has experienced a continuous downward trend since 2024, raising urgent questions regarding foundational literacy and educational quality across the nation.
According to recent official figures, the English pass rate stood at 19.7 percent in 2024, before dropping to 11.77 percent in 2025 and falling further to 9.77 percent in 2026. In the most recent examination cycle, 63.33 percent of candidates failed the subject entirely.
Education experts and authorities note that English serves as the primary medium of instruction for all academic subjects, making widespread failures a critical systemic issue rather than an isolated examination concern. While the Free Quality School Education programme successfully expanded school enrollment following its introduction in 2018, educators emphasize that attendance alone does not ensure essential learning outcomes.
The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education convened a National English Language Conference in Freetown in March 2026, to address foundational literacy, teacher preparation, and curriculum delivery. Education Minister Conrad Sackey acknowledged the alarming statistics, outlining plans for targeted in-service training for English teachers and foundational-level interventions.
Stakeholders stress that reversing this downward trend requires sustained accountability, improved classroom monitoring, adequate teaching resources, and strong foundational support from primary school onward.
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