WAEC Releases 2026 WASSCE Results: Sharp Decline in English Performance and 8,295 Sanctions for Malpractice

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has officially released the provisional results for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), revealing a complex picture of academic progress and disciplinary challenges. A total of 512,862 candidates registered for the exams, representing an 11.07% increase from the previous year. However, the release has been overshadowed by the cancellation or withholding of results for 8,295 candidates due to examination malpractices. Specifically, 7,434 students had their subject results cancelled for bringing unauthorized materials into the halls, while 861 candidates saw their entire results annulled for the use of mobile phones during the examinations. Furthermore, results from 169 schools are currently being withheld pending investigations into alleged collusion, with a final determination expected by October 30, 2026.

While the 2026 results showed significant improvements in Social Studies, Mathematics, and Integrated Science, a concerning downward trend in English Language performance has sparked alarm among education advocates. Social Studies recorded its highest pass rate since 2014 at 76%, yet English performance dropped to 62.4%, down from 69% in 2025. Kofi Asare, the Executive Director of Education Watch (EduWatch), described the decline as a four-year trend that requires urgent remedial action. Asare emphasized that weak foundational literacy skills at the basic education level are hindering secondary school success, calling for stronger interventions to bolster literacy as a cornerstone for overall academic development.

In response to the results, the University of Ghana has announced the reopening of its admissions portal to allow applicants to review and update their entries. Candidates have until September 8, 2026, to verify their names, birth dates, and examination records against their freshly released WASSCE grades. The university urged applicants to consult the 2025/2026 entry cut-off aggregates before finalizing their choices. Meanwhile, WAEC has advised candidates to use the official Ghana website and result checkers to access their performance, while cautioning the public to remain vigilant against fraudsters promising to "upgrade" results for a fee.

Beyond the statistics, the social impact of the results has also come into focus. Media personality Nana Aba Anamoah has called for public compassion toward candidates who did not achieve their expected grades. She urged parents and guardians to avoid shaming or comparing students, noting the heavy emotional toll of disappointing outcomes and reminding the public that these results do not define a student's entire future. As the Ghana Examinations Committee continues its investigations into the withheld results, the broader educational community remains focused on balancing the celebration of improved science and math scores with the urgent need to address the country's literacy gap.