The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) has officially announced the opening of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) portal for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) Batch Registration System (BRS).
In a public notice issued in Freetown, the Ministry informed school heads, parents, candidates, and the general public that the portal is now fully operational for the upload of approved candidate lists.
Over 163,000 Candidates Cleared
Following a nationwide verification exercise, the Ministry confirmed that 163,997 candidates have been cleared, confirmed, and submitted to WAEC as the official list approved for upload onto the BRS portal. School leaders have been encouraged to begin uploading these cleared candidates immediately, while cases of unmatched candidates continue to be reviewed and corrected.
Over 55,000 Candidates Flagged for Discrepancies
The Ministry disclosed that 55,174 candidates were identified as unmatched due to discrepancies such as incorrect records, duplications, or incomplete information. Authorities clarified that the Government is prepared to cover the cost of all genuine and eligible candidates.
Out of 74,682 initially unmatched candidates, 19,505 have already been cleared after further verification.
School Heads Directed to Act Urgently
Affected school heads have been directed to urgently review and correct all discrepancies and submit final verified lists to the Ministry for approval before uploading them to the WAEC portal.
The Ministry also reminded school authorities that the official undertaking document—presented to Parliament by the Minister on 10 February 2026 and subsequently approved—must be signed by every school head at MBSSE offices nationwide. The undertaking holds school authorities accountable for the accuracy and integrity of candidate data submitted for WASSCE registration.
Deadline: February 28, No Extension
The WAEC BRS portal will close on 28 February 2026. The Ministry stressed that there will be no extension under any circumstances. Schools that fail to complete registration within the stipulated timeframe risk having their candidates excluded from the 2026 WASSCE.
The Ministry called on all school authorities to treat the exercise with the highest level of urgency, accuracy, and responsibility to ensure a smooth, transparent, and credible examination process.
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