The West African Examinations Council has defended the credibility of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination results, urging candidates, parents and the public to disregard unverified claims questioning their accuracy.

The council, in a statement issued by its Public Affairs Department on Thursday on X, said the results were produced through rigorous, transparent and quality-assured processes that have guided its examinations over the years.

WAEC said the 2026 WASSCE for School Candidates was conducted in line with its established standard operational procedures and relevant educational policies, in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Education.

“While the Council welcomes constructive scrutiny as part of its accountability to candidates, parents, schools, and the wider public, it wishes to state unequivocally that this year’s results were produced through the same rigorous, transparent, and quality-assured processes that have guided the Council’s operations for decades,” the statement said.

The council was reacting to recent public commentary, particularly on social media, questioning the accuracy and credibility of the recently released results.

It acknowledged that anxiety over examination outcomes was normal, especially among candidates hoping to progress to the next stage of their education.

However, WAEC cautioned the public against relying on unverified information circulating on social media.

The Council explained that every candidate’s script undergoes several stages of marking, moderation and auditing before results are released.

“Every candidate’s script undergoes a multi-tiered system of marking, moderation, and auditing. These processes are guided by standardized marking schemes and overseen by vetted subject experts to ensure objective and fair scoring,” it stated.

WAEC also said it had established channels through which candidates and other stakeholders could raise concerns or seek clarification about their results.

“WAEC maintains clear procedures for addressing queries or grievances,” the statement added, noting that guidance on query resolution was available through its offices nationwide and its verified online communication channels.

The examination body reiterated its commitment to protecting the integrity of its assessment processes and safeguarding the interests of candidates.

“WAEC hereby reiterates its unwavering commitment to preserving the integrity of its assessment processes and safeguarding the interests of every candidate,” it said.

The council advised members of the public with concerns about the results to contact it directly through its offices or verified communication channels rather than relying on social media speculation.