By MILLICENT IFEANYICHUKWU

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has defended the credibility of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results amid growing public scrutiny.

This is contained in a statement issued on Thursday by WAEC Public Affairs Department and signed by Mrs Moyosola Adesina, Head of the unit.

Adesina said the clarification followed recent commentaries questioning the accuracy, reliability and credibility of the examination results released on Aug. 5.

She noted that comments by content creators and social media commentators had raised concerns among candidates, parents, schools and the wider public.

She said the council welcomed constructive scrutiny, describing accountability as essential, but cautioned against spreading unverified claims capable of causing unnecessary anxiety among candidates.

“WAEC remains committed to ensuring that every result released reflects rigorous assessment, careful moderation and established standards designed to protect candidates and sustain public confidence nationwide,” she said.

Adesina explained that the 2026 WASSCE for School Candidates was conducted strictly in line with established operational procedures and relevant educational policies.

She said the examination was administered in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and remained guided by longstanding quality-assurance mechanisms.

The head of public affairs department noted that every candidate’s script passed through a multi-tiered system of marking, moderation and auditing before final results were approved.

She added that standardised marking schemes and carefully vetted subject experts were deployed throughout the assessment process.

She said: “The Council understands candidates’ concerns, but urges parents, schools and the public to verify information through official channels rather than rely on unsubstantiated social media claims.”

Adesina advised candidates and stakeholders with genuine concerns about their results to utilise established query-resolution channels available nationwide.

She said such concerns could be addressed through its offices across the country and verified online platforms.

“Candidates and stakeholders with genuine concerns should use WAEC’s established review channels, where queries are handled transparently and appropriate explanations provided,” she said.

Adesina reiterated the council’s commitment to preserving examination integrity and safeguarding the interests of candidates across the country.

She also urged members of the public to obtain information relating to examinations and results through official WAEC communication channels.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that WAEC released the 2026 WASSCE results for school candidates on Aug. 5 after weeks of anticipation among candidates, parents and schools.

A total of 1,950,726 candidates sat for the examination, while 1,200,514 candidates secured credits in at least five subjects, including English and Mathematics.

The figure represents 61.54 per cent of all candidates who participated in the examination nationwide. (NAN)

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