WAEC Blames 2026 WASSCE Performance Drop on Anti-Cheat Measures, Rejects CBT Glitch Claims

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has rejected claims that technical glitches, poor logistics or the transition to computer-based testing (CBT) were responsible for the poor performance recorded by some candidates in the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Instead, the examination body said tougher anti-malpractice measures introduced during the exercise exposed candidates and schools that had previously benefited from examination cheating.

WAEC’s Head of National Office, Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut, gave the explanation during a virtual dialogue organised by the Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (EWAN), amid growing concerns from parents, teachers and school proprietors over the 2026 results.

Several stakeholders at the forum had alleged that the examination process was poorly handled, with some claiming that reputable schools that maintained strict anti-malpractice policies suffered disproportionately poor results.

They also raised concerns over examination delays, night papers and WAEC’s preparedness for the deployment of CBT.

Some school proprietors questioned the reliability of the technology infrastructure, while others complained that the cost of providing laptops, generators and CCTV systems could place an excessive financial burden on schools.

The Principal of Babcock University High School, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Fatola Samson, said the school’s 2026 performance was significantly below its usual standard and could adversely affect students seeking admission into higher institutions.

Similarly, the Proprietor of Soundmind School, Arigbajo, Ogun State, Dr. Peter Ogunkunle, questioned WAEC’s technological readiness, arguing that difficulties with internet connectivity during the virtual engagement raised concerns about the reliability of the infrastructure supporting the examination.

The stakeholders subsequently called for an independent review of the 2026 results, warning that unresolved concerns could undermine public confidence in CBT examinations.

But Dangut dismissed claims that technological failures or logistics were responsible for the performance concerns.

He attributed the changes in performance largely to enhanced examination security, including randomisation and serialisation measures designed to make malpractice more difficult.

According to him, the measures may have affected schools and candidates that previously relied on examination malpractice to achieve higher scores.

Dangut stressed that WAEC’s WASSCE is an achievement test based on a prescribed syllabus and should not be compared with the aptitude-based examinations conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

He also disputed the perception of a widespread collapse in performance, saying the overall decline across subjects was only 1.4 per cent.

Giving specific figures, the WAEC official said the proportion of candidates who obtained at least C6 in English Language actually increased from 64.58 per cent in 2025 to 69.31 per cent in 2026.

Mathematics, however, recorded a decline, with candidates achieving C6 falling from 88.66 per cent in 2025 to 84.03 per cent in 2026.

Meanwhile, Dangut confirmed that results for visually impaired candidates had been released, although some cases involving shading errors were still undergoing manual resolution.

He rejected calls for external verification of the results, but advised candidates, schools and other aggrieved stakeholders to make use of WAEC’s existing procedures for appealing or requesting a review of results.

The controversy has nevertheless intensified calls for greater transparency as Nigeria moves further towards CBT-based examinations, with stakeholders insisting that the integrity of both the examination process and the results must be demonstrable to candidates, parents and schools.