WAEC 2026 Results Released: Over 1.2 Million Candidates Meet University Admission Requirements

‎More than 1.2 million candidates who sat the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates obtained the minimum requirement of five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.

‎‎This was announced by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on Wednesday. The Head of the Nigeria National Office(HNO), Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut, who made this known in Lagos, said 1,200,514 candidates, representing 61.54 per cent of the 1,950,726 candidates who sat the examination, achieved the benchmark required for admission into tertiary institutions.

‎‎According to the breakdown, 558,883 male candidates, representing 28.65 per cent, and 641,631 female candidates, representing 32.89 per cent, obtained five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, with female candidates outperforming their male counterparts.

‎‎WAEC noted, however, that performance recorded a slight decline compared to the previous year, with the 2026 pass rate dropping by 1.42 percentage points from the 2025 figure.

‎‎The HNO also disclosed that 1,687,378 candidates, representing 86.50 per cent, obtained credits and above in at least five subjects, regardless of whether they passed English Language or Mathematics.

‎‎It added that of the 1,959,668 candidates who registered for the examination from 24,207 schools, 1,950,726 eventually sat the examination. The candidates comprised 953,459 males (48.88 per cent) and 997,267 females (51.12 per cent).

‎‎WAEC said it had successfully processed and released the results of 1,834,695 candidates, representing 94.05 per cent of those who sat the examination, while the results of 116,031 candidates (5.95 per cent) are still being processed due to issues being resolved. It assured affected candidates that the outstanding results would be released within a few days.

‎‎Also, it was disclosed that the results of 167,486 candidates, representing 8.59 per cent of candidates who sat the examination, have been withheld over alleged involvement in examination malpractice. The figure, WAEC said, represents a 1.11 percentage-point reduction from the 9.7 per cent recorded in the 2025 examination.

‎‎The HNO noted that the organisation had put measures in place to improve the conduct of the national examination and reduce malpractice. These measures include continued deployment of computer-based examinations, paper serialisation and the Digital Examiner Mark System, all aimed at strengthening the integrity of the examination process.

‎‎He added that candidates who have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Council can access their results on the Council’s results website: www.waecdirect.org, within the next twelve hours, noting that copies of the Result Listing will be sent to schools shortly.

Why do many countries still maintain their monarchies?

Many countries have continued to maintain their monarchies despite the popularity of republican practices. This is due to a blend of history, constitutional role, cultural uniqueness and political stability. According to Ginsburg et al. (2025), constitutional monarchies are usually not affiliated with any party, and they serve as emblems of unity, while still embodying the nation’s political and cultural heritage in a modern governance setting. 

A major reason why monarchies exist and thrive in the modern world is the symbolic role that they play in creating a national identity. Monarchs characterise the historic and cultural stability of a country – they connect the past, present and future facets of a nation. Their presence promotes unity, especially in societies with multiple ethnicities where cultural differences may hinder unity (Pillalalamarri, 2014). Ceremonial gatherings, such as royal visits, national cultural celebrations, and other festivals, help to strengthen a sense of togetherness.

Moreover, there is a form of reputation and pomp associated with royalty, which is why royal and cultural events attract tourism, thereby increasing a country’s revenue. Japan, Thailand and the United Kingdom have leveraged the monarchies and royal families to reinforce economic and diplomatic ties (Pillalalamarri, 2014). Monarchy may be expensive, but these expenses are viewed as investments that yield international popularity and reputation.

Monarchs act as agents of stabilisation. They serve as a link between different parties in politics since they are usually nonpartisan (Tridimas, 2021). They reign longer and have prospect to provide stability in leadership during national instability. They are not susceptible to interim democratic pressures. This helps to maintain a stable and working society even when elected leaders are at loggerheads.

In conclusion, monarchies continue to be present because their function in society exceeds governance; they encourage national stability, economic development and moral guidance. They blend traditions and cultures with political philosophies, which ensure their relevancy in the modern world.

References

Ginsburg, T., Rodriguez, D., & Weingast, B. (2025). The functions of constitutional monarchy: Why kings and queens survive in a world of republics. Google.com. https://www.law.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/Constitutional%20Monarchy%20as%20Equilibrium.pdf

Tridimas, G. (2021). Constitutional monarchy as power sharing. Constitutional Political Economy, 32(4), 355–373. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10602-021-09336-8

Pillalamarri, A. (2014, June 24). Why monarchies are still relevant and useful in the 21st century. The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2014/06/why-monarchies-are-still-relevant-and-useful-in-the-21st-century/