Liberia’s education system faces new challenges as national examination results reveal significant shifts in student performance.
The Liberia National Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) announced that 60.37 percent of candidates met the new graduation criteria for 2026. This announcement, made by Mr. Dale G. Gbotoe, follows a six-day delay in releasing the results, which were initially scheduled for August 14.
WAEC Releases 2026 Examination Results
The results for the 2026 national examinations show a mixed performance across various grade levels. At the third-grade level, 36,517 out of 39,263 candidates passed the National Assessment Test, achieving a remarkable 93.01 percent pass rate. This is a significant improvement from the previous years, where the pass rates were 82.55 percent in 2025 and 85.5 percent in 2024.
However, the sixth-grade results indicate a slight decline, with 40,058 of the 46,153 candidates passing, resulting in an 83.33 percent pass rate. This is down from 87 percent in 2025 and 93 percent in 2024. The ninth-grade Junior High School Certificate Examination reported an overall pass rate of approximately 89.56 percent, with Social Studies showing a strong performance at 93.55 percent.
Liberia: Key figures on graduation criteria
- 60.37 percent of candidates met the graduation criteria
- 93.01 percent pass rate for third-grade National Assessment Test
- 83.33 percent pass rate for sixth-grade examinations
- 89.56 percent overall pass rate for ninth-grade examinations
- 31.98 percent pass rate for Literature in English in 12th grade
- 82.55 percent pass rate for Mathematics in 12th grade
Impact of New Graduation Policy
A significant change for the 2026 examination cycle is the introduction of a new standardized graduation policy. Candidates must now pass a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, to graduate from high school. This policy has led to 33,741 candidates successfully meeting the new benchmark.
WAEC also recognized top-performing candidates, with Cho F. Kamara from Faith Foundation School achieving the highest national score. The results highlight both the successes and challenges within Liberia’s educational landscape.
Next Steps for Graduating Candidates
- Graduation arrangements for successful candidates will commence.
- Families and educational institutions will transition into the next academic phase.
Liberia’s education system is evolving, with new standards shaping the future of its students.
