By Hassan Osman Kargbo
The announcement of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results last Friday, 17 October 2025, by the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, brought mixed feelings across Sierra Leone. While many students celebrated their success, thousands of others were left in shock and disappointed as their results were withheld once again by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
Out of the 143,985 candidates who sat for the exams, over 3,500 results were withheld due to reasons cited as “unpaid fees and suspected examination malpractice.” This recurring issue has sparked growing frustration among students, parents, and education stakeholders who question WAEC’s credibility and commitment to fairness and transparency.
For years, the council has withheld results, leaving many students in despair. Each time the results are released, similar reports emerge of missing or seized results. The practice, many argue, undermines the hard work of students who have spent years studying and whose parents have sacrificed immensely to fund their education.
“I was so excited to check my result, only to find out that it has been withheld,” said 18-year-old candidate Fatmata Kamara from Wellington, East of Freetown. “My parents paid all the fees, and I studied really hard. Now I don’t even know what went wrong. It’s heartbreaking.” She said
Parents, too, are expressing deep concern over what they see as a failure by WAEC to address these issues before examinations begin. “Every year, we go through this same problem,” lamented a parent, Alhaji Ibrahim Sesay, whose son’s results were also withheld. “Why can’t WAEC put proper systems in place to avoid these so-called irregularities? It’s unfair to keep punishing students after they have already completed the exams.”
Education activists and civil society organizations are also calling for greater accountability from WAEC. According to educationist Mariatu Conteh, the practice of withholding results has become a national concern that affects public trust in the education system. “If students are accused of malpractice, there must be transparency and evidence,” she said. “You cannot just withhold results of thousands of candidates without proper communication and expect people to stay silent.”
The psychological impact on affected students is another growing worry. Many candidates, after months of anticipation, are left confused and anxious about their future. Some fear losing admission opportunities into tertiary institutions because of the delay. Psychologist Dr. James Tucker explained that such uncertainty can lead to stress and depression among young people. “These are young minds at a very sensitive stage,” he said. “When they feel unfairly treated or left in limbo, it can affect their confidence and mental well-being.”
While WAEC maintains that results are withheld due to unpaid fees or alleged malpractice, many Sierra Leoneans believe the institution should strengthen preventive measures before the exams rather than penalizing students afterward. Critics argue that improved monitoring, digital verification systems, and stronger coordination with schools could prevent such irregularities from occurring.
“The Ministry of Education and WAEC must work hand in hand to find a lasting solution,” said civil society advocate Patrick Fofanah. “We can’t continue to normalize withheld results every year. It’s damaging our education system and the hopes of thousands of young people.”
As the outcry grows, many are calling on the government to intervene and ensure greater accountability within WAEC. For now, hundreds of students continue to wait anxiously, hoping their results will eventually be released, a familiar but painful reality in Sierra Leone’s education journey.
