WAEC Records 61.5% Credit Pass Rate in 2026 School Certificate Examination

By Benson Daniel

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the results of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), with 61.5 per cent of candidates obtaining five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, the minimum requirement for admission into most tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

The examination body said the performance reflects the outcome of candidates who met the benchmark for higher education, while reaffirming its commitment to maintaining the credibility, transparency and integrity of its examination process.

WAEC noted that the release of the results followed the successful completion of marking, result processing and extensive quality assurance procedures to ensure accuracy before publication.

Candidates have been advised to access their results through the Council’s official result checking platform using their examination numbers and result checker credentials.

Education stakeholders described the performance as an indication of continued progress in the country’s secondary education system, while stressing that more investment is needed to improve learning outcomes across public and private schools.

They called for increased funding for education, improved teacher training, better learning facilities and wider access to digital educational resources to sustain improvements in students’ academic performance.

Experts also urged parents, schools and government authorities to strengthen collaboration in addressing challenges such as examination malpractice, inadequate infrastructure and learning gaps that continue to affect educational standards.

According to education analysts, the performance of candidates in national examinations remains a key indicator of the effectiveness of teaching, curriculum implementation and overall investment in the education sector.

They added that sustained reforms aimed at improving teacher quality, expanding access to technology driven learning and strengthening assessment systems would further enhance academic achievement nationwide.

The release of the 2026 WASSCE results marks another important milestone in Nigeria’s education calendar, with successful candidates now expected to begin preparations for admission into universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other tertiary institutions.