The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has officially released the results of the 2026 Computer-Based WASSCE for School Candidates. A significant milestone has been achieved with 1,200,514 candidates, representing 61.54% of those who sat for the examination, securing credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including the crucial English Language and Mathematics.
A Glimpse into the Numbers: Performance and Participation
Announcing the results in Lagos, Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut, Head of WAEC Nigeria National Office, highlighted that while this figure is impressive, it marks a slight decrease of 1.42% compared to the 2025 performance. A total of 1,959,668 candidates from 24,207 schools across Nigeria, Benin Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, and Equatorial Guinea enrolled for the examination, with 1,950,726 ultimately sitting for it.
Key Statistics from the 2026 WASSCE:
- 1,200,514 candidates (61.54%) obtained credits and above in five subjects, including English and Mathematics.
- 1,687,378 candidates (86.50%) obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects with or without English and Mathematics.
Gender Dynamics and Special Needs Candidates
The results also shed light on gender participation and performance. Among the 1.2 million candidates who passed English and Mathematics, 558,883 (28.65%) were male, while 641,631 (32.89%) were female. Overall, 953,459 males (48.88%) and 997,267 females (51.12%) participated in the examination, indicating a slightly higher female turnout.
WAEC also catered to 1,213 candidates with special needs, including 137 visually challenged, 491 with impaired hearing, 55 spastic cum mentally challenged, and 41 physically challenged individuals, underscoring the council’s commitment to inclusive education.
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Malpractice Concerns and Future Sanctions
Despite the successes, examination malpractice remains a significant challenge. WAEC withheld the results of 167,486 candidates, representing 8.59%, due to various forms of malpractice. This figure, however, is 1.11% lower than the 9.7% recorded in 2025, suggesting a marginal improvement in curbing the menace.
Dr. Dangut expressed concern over the persistent use of cell phones in examination halls, despite the ban, and instances of organized cheating in some schools. He affirmed that supervisors and invigilators found aiding malpractice have been apprehended and will face sanctions through State Ministries of Education, reinforcing WAEC’s resolve to maintain the integrity of its examinations.
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Conclusion
The 2026 WAEC results present a mixed but largely positive picture of academic performance in Nigeria. While the high pass rate in core subjects is commendable, the ongoing battle against examination malpractice highlights the need for continued vigilance and stricter enforcement. These results will undoubtedly shape the academic trajectories of millions of Nigerian youths and influence future educational policies.
