By Kadijatu Bangura D.S
FREETOWN — Sierra Leone’s WASSCE crisis has deepened dramatically, with the number of withheld May/June 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination results surging to 47,454 over alleged examination malpractices.
A WAEC document titled Summary of Crime Types (Captured for WASSCE 2026) details a total of 47,525 cases across 13 categories, a figure that shows a discrepancy of 71 cases when compared to the 47,454 officially reported as withheld.
The breakdown reveals that social media-related offences dominate the malpractice list with 23,980 cases, representing 50.46 percent of the total. Collusion follows with 8,116 cases (17.08%), while mobile phone offences account for 6,005 cases (12.64%).
Other offences include written materials with 3,319 cases (6.98%), absence or failure to submit scripts with 3,026 cases (6.37%), irregular activity with 1,967 cases (4.14%) and assault with 357 cases (0.75%).
In a separate but related development, 368 candidates from five private schools have also had their results seized by WAEC over unpaid examination fees amounting to Le114,093.
According to the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, the results of the 368 candidates were excluded from the batch released to the Ministry (MBSSE) on Friday, October 23, because their schools failed to settle outstanding financial obligations.
The Ministry clarified that the students are not at fault, stressing that the debt lies solely with the school proprietors.
The affected schools and their arrears are:
– Great High School of Science and Business: 69 candidates; Le43,194 owed
– Royal International School: 38 candidates; Le23,788 owed
– Faith Walk Academy Senior Secondary School: 32 candidates; Le20,032 owed
– Rev. Christian International High School: 22 candidates; Le13,771 owed
– Globe International: 22 candidates; Le13,308 owed
Proprietors have been urged to urgently settle the debts to facilitate the release of the results.
Authorities have warned that students must not suffer academic setbacks due to administrative failures and financial negligence by school managements.
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