By Edwina Bawoh
The release of Sierra Leone’s 17th August 2026 National Primary School Examination (NPSE) results has raised concerns over 1,927 candidates whose results remain unpublished by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC)
The results were officially announced by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) in August, following the examination conducted. According to figures released by the Ministry, 164,714 candidates from 5,228 primary schools were included in the results submitted to the Ministry. With a number of 4,553 registered candidates absent from the examination
For candidates whose results were published, the examination recorded a reported 78.2 percent national pass rate, with 125,498 pupils achieving the required cut-off score of 230 or above
However, attention has gradually shifted from the top NPSE performers to the thousands of pupils still waiting on their results.
WAEC, however have been said, set aside the results of 1,927 candidates for various reasons, according to information released alongside the 2026 NPSE results. One of the reasons cites suspected examination malpractice
MBSSE reportedly said, 86 percent of the 1,927 unpublished results were affected and caused by schools’ failure to submit the required CASS scores.
CASS forms part of the assessment process and accounts for 10 percent of a Candidate’s final grade. The failure to submit the information therefore will create a problem in completing affected pupils’ results.
The Ministry has also responded by giving schools that failed to submit the required CASS information an opportunity to provide the required records
According to reports on the Ministry’s response, school administrators were given a deadline to submit the missing information, with disciplinary action threatened against those who fail to comply without reasonable explanation.
The result released also produced a notable academic achievement, as 11-year-old Davies J C Bethany of Tower Hill Kindergarten and Primary School emerging as the highest-performing candidate with an aggregate score of 351. As a result of this Bethany Davis emerging as the first position holder of the 2026 NPSE expresses “I was expected and am proud of myself” another student who was among the 2026 NPSE passing rate by the name Isatu Aileu expressed her joy “I might not have gotten the grade expected but am happy that my result was out with passing score and not withheld”
The NPSE is a major transition examination for pupils completing primary education. any delays in obtaining results can cause uncertainty over progression and school-placement arrangements.
For families whose children have not received their results due it being withheld, the situation creates uncertainty at critical stage of their education. Cythnia Kamara a parent of a pupil whose results was withheld said” WACE is putting the kids to stress, frustration even, my child has been crying and moody from the moment we went to take her results, knowing her performance all through, it’s devastating she further says “on behalf of other parents, please WACE should release these results, let us know the fate of our kids”
Another parent with the same said” This is the first time of hearing NPSE results withheld, these are kids for God’s sake”
The situation has not only raised questions about whether pupils should be affected by administrative failures committed by their schools. But Parents also face questions over when their children’s results will become available and whether any further action will be required.
While missing CASS information accounts for a significant proportion of the unpublished results, examination malpractice remains another issue associated with the withheld results.
Some results may remain unpublished because of suspected examination irregularities, while others are affected by missing school assessment information.
MBSSE has reportedly been working with schools to obtain missing CASS information, while withheld results connected to examination irregularities remain subject to established procedures
According to Basic and Senior Secondary Education Minister, Hon. Conrad Sackey said he has assured NPSE pupils who were not among the passing rate, that it’s not the end of education and that the ministry will see to work out the challenges that prevents some pupils from entering Junior Secondary Schools, he encourages unsuccessful Candidates to resit and that they will have other opportunities. He further congratulates all successful Candidates and also inciting Davis’s highest score achievement to be an inspiration to pupils who will resit the 2027 NPSE he ends by advising these pupils to work hard and prepare for their next coming exams
As MBSSE continues to process the outstanding results, parents and affected pupils will be looking forward for clarity on when the remaining results will be out and what will happen in cases where irregularities are confirmed.
However, the confirmed position is that the majority of candidates have received results, while 1,927 results under review, with the ministry saying that a substantial proportion of the outstanding cases are connected to missing CASS records.
For the 2026 NPSE, the main figure remains a 78.2 percent pass rate, but behind that national statistic are thousands of individual pupils whose educational futures depend solely on the accurate, timely and transparent processes of their results.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 19th August 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
