Withholds Hundreds’ Results
Exam results mean little if the process behind them cannot be trusted. Hundreds of candidates have now lost some or all results. Investigations found widespread violations of examination rules. The Council paired punishment with the release of provisional scores. That deliberate balance matters a very great deal. Honest, hardworking students should not be unfairly shadowed by proven cheats. Withheld results still hang on the pending inquiries. The message to schools is intentionally blunt this year. Malpractice now clearly carries real and visible consequences. Yet sanctions alone will not end the deeper problem. Exam fraud reflects heavy pressures on students and institutions across Liberia.
MONROVIA: The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has dealt a heavy blow to examination malpractice by canceling and withholding the results of hundreds of candidates implicated in cheating, even as it released the provisional results of the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
The Council announced that investigations into alleged examination irregularities uncovered widespread violations of examination rules, prompting stringent disciplinary measures against affected candidates.
According to WAEC, the subject results of 496 candidates were canceled, while the entire results of 105 candidates were nullified after investigations established their involvement in various forms of examination malpractice.
In addition, the Council disclosed that the subject results of 119 candidates and the complete results of 48 candidates have been withheld pending the outcome of ongoing investigations into suspected breaches of examination regulations.
Sanctions and Warnings
WAEC emphasized that the withheld results remain under review and will either be released or subjected to further sanctions depending on the findings of the investigations. The Council said the disciplinary actions reflect its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the integrity, fairness, and credibility of public examinations across Liberia.
It warned that examination malpractice undermines academic standards and deprives deserving students of fair opportunities, stressing that anyone found violating examination rules will continue to face severe consequences.
WAEC also appealed to school administrators, teachers, parents, candidates, and other stakeholders to promote honesty and uphold ethical standards throughout the examination process.
The Council reaffirmed that protecting the credibility of the Basic Education Certificate Examination remains a top priority, adding that it will continue strengthening measures aimed at detecting and deterring examination fraud. Despite the widespread sanctions, WAEC noted that the release of the provisional BECE results marks another important milestone in the country’s academic calendar as thousands of candidates prepare for the next stage of their educational journey.
