The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has withheld the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) result of 78-year-old Sierra Leonean candidate Pa Lamin Turay, amid questions about his classification as a regular school candidate. Pa Turay, who returned to formal education in 2019 at the age of 71, completed Junior Secondary School before proceeding to Senior Secondary School. He eventually sat the May-June 2026 WASSCE as a regular candidate.
Pa Turay's case has attracted public attention, particularly because of questions surrounding the distinction between government-sponsored WASSCE candidates and private candidates. Government-sponsored WASSCE examinations are generally intended for pupils enrolled in recognised secondary schools, while private candidates typically include individuals sitting independently, often to improve or resit subjects in which they previously performed poorly.
This has prompted speculation about whether Pa Turay's classification as a regular school candidate, given his unusual educational journey and age, may have raised questions during the examination verification process. However, there is no official indication that his age or candidate classification is responsible for the withholding of his result. WAEC has also not publicly identified the specific allegation against him.
On 27 October, Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Conrad Sackey confirmed that 47,454 candidates, comprising 26,735 females and 20,719 males, had their results withheld over suspected examination irregularities. He stressed that withholding a result does not automatically mean a candidate has been found guilty, adding that WAEC would investigate each case individually before deciding whether to release or cancel the affected results.
The 2026 WASSCE results have also exposed a significant challenge in English Language performance across the country. Reported figures indicate that 63.33 per cent of candidates failed English Language, with only 9.77 per cent obtaining a credit pass. The performance has raised fresh concerns about English proficiency and the preparedness of pupils for higher education.
In response to the situation, the University of Makeni (UNIMAK) has introduced a special provisional admission arrangement for candidates who failed to obtain a credit pass in English Language. Under the arrangement, candidates who secured credit passes in at least four other subjects can obtain provisional admission into degree programmes, except Law and Nursing, subject to meeting the university's requirements.
The intervention offers a possible pathway into higher education for some affected candidates, but the widespread failure in English Language remains one of the most concerning outcomes of the 2026 WASSCE. Meanwhile, grades reportedly circulating on social media suggest that Pa Turay's result was not withheld, but WAEC's online portal currently displays 'Result Withheld' against all his subjects.
Key points
- 47,454 WASSCE results withheld over suspected examination irregularities.
- 63.33 per cent of candidates failed English Language in the 2026 WASSCE.
- University of Makeni introduces provisional admission arrangement for candidates who failed English Language.
