"The West African Examination Council (WAEC)... "
WAEC Introduces Reforms to Address "Stranded Results" and Examination Malpractice
Published: July 2026 | Source: CampusAI News
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Overview
Following the challenges experienced during the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), where over 192,000 results (almost 10%) were withheld due to malpractice suspicions and technical glitches caused delays, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has implemented comprehensive reforms for the 2026 examination cycle. These reforms target both the prevention of malpractice and the timely release of results.
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Key Reforms for 2026
1. Examination Malpractice Portal
WAEC has introduced a dedicated online portal where candidates accused of malpractice can view the allegations against them and defend themselves, ensuring fair hearing before any final decision is made.
· No payment required to access the portal
· Candidates can check their status and make representations online
· Portal address: waecinternational.org/complaints
· Candidates are advised to check the portal four weeks after results are released
Dr Amos Dangut, Head of WAEC Nigeria National Office, stated: "The candidates alleged to have been involved in examination malpractice will be uploaded on this portal and they are required to defend themselves against such allegations, if they are sure they're innocent".
2. Question Paper Serialisation
WAEC has implemented a new system where all examination questions are scrambled, ensuring no two candidates receive the same question sequence. This makes it significantly harder for candidates to collaborate or share answers during the examination.
3. 45-Day Result Release Commitment
WAEC has committed to releasing results within 45 days after the final examination paper. Certificates will be printed and issued to schools within 90 days.
"We have learnt from our glitches. We have perfected everything, and I speak authoritatively that we will not have a repeat of that glitch" — Dr Amos Dangut, WAEC Head of Nigeria Office
4. Enhanced Infrastructure Requirements
To prevent technical failures that caused delays in 2025, WAEC now requires all examination centres to have:
· At least two functional power sources (national grid, generator, or solar)
· Improved Computer-Based Testing (CBT) systems that can operate stably even with limited internet connectivity
5. Digital Certificate Services (WAEC DigiCert)
WAEC has rolled out the WAEC DigiCert platform across all five member countries: Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
Features of DigiCert:
· Access, request, verify, and share digital certificate copies
· Recover lost WAEC examination numbers
· Available as mobile app on App Store and Play Store
· Physical certificates will continue to be issued
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Additional Federal Government Reforms
The Federal Ministry of Education has introduced complementary measures effective from the 2026 examination cycle:
Reform Details
SS3 Transfer Ban Strict restriction on transfer of final-year students between schools to prevent "exam tourism"
National Continuous Assessment Mandatory submission windows: January, April, and August
Examination Learners' Identification Number New unique ID for tracking candidates through the examination process and beyond
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2026 WASSCE Statistics
Detail Information
Total Candidates 1,959,636 candidates from 24,207 schools
Female Candidates 1,001,072 (51.08%)
Male Candidates 958,564 (48.92%)
Subjects 37 subjects, 97 papers
Supervisors Approximately 29,000 teachers
CBT Schools Over 450 schools (up from 40 last year)
Examination Period April 21 – June 19, 2026
Results Release Expected August 3, 2026
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Impact on Candidates
What Candidates Should Know
· Results are final: The 45-day release commitment means candidates will not experience the prolonged delays of previous years
· Transparent process: The malpractice portal ensures candidates can defend themselves if accused
· Digital access: Candidates can now access their certificates digitally through WAEC DigiCert
· No hidden fees: No payment is required to access the malpractice portal
Important Notes on GCE
Dr Amos Dangut also announced that the private candidate examination (GCE) will no longer be held in September. Instead, it will be conducted between September and October, allowing results to be released before the end of the year.
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Quick Action Checklist for Candidates
· ✅ Visit the WAEC malpractice portal at waecinternational.org/complaints to check your status after results are released
· ✅ Download the WAEC DigiCert app from App Store or Play Store for digital certificate access
· ✅ No scratch card is required to check malpractice status — login with your data
· ✅ Check the portal four weeks after results are released for any updates
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📌 Editor's Note: This article is based on official WAEC announcements and verified sources as of July 2026. All reforms are effective from the 2026 examination cycle. For the latest updates, visit the official WAEC website at waec.org.