KEY POINTS

• JAMB has extended the admission window to allow candidates affected by 2026 WAEC results to submit NECO results where necessary.
• WAEC will remark affected scripts free of charge; NAPPS says 28 schools have so far undergone remarking, with major changes recorded in only three.
• NAPPS wants WAEC to explain sharp subject-level declines and provide statistical evidence linking the results to tougher anti-malpractice measures.

The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, NAPPS, has raised fresh concerns over the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, questioning the consistency of the results released by the West African Examinations Council, WAEC.

The association also disclosed that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has extended the admission window to give candidates affected by problems with their 2026 WAEC results more time to submit National Examination Council (NECO) results where necessary.

NAPPS disclosed this in a document dated September 3, 2026, detailing the outcome of its meeting with the Minister of Education on concerns surrounding the conduct, marking and release of the 2026 WASSCE results.

The document was signed by the association’s National Secretary, Dr Kayode Adeyemi, and National President, Samira Jibir.

According to NAPPS, the extension of the JAMB Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) admission period will provide additional time for candidates whose WAEC results contain deficiencies to use their NECO results to meet admission requirements.

The move is particularly significant for candidates whose university or other tertiary institution admission prospects could be affected by missing or unsatisfactory WAEC grades.

NAPPS, however, clarified that the admission exercise which closed on August 31, 2026, was for the 2025/2026 academic session and not the 2026/2027 admission exercise.

The association said the extension would therefore give affected candidates an opportunity to regularise their admission documentation without being disadvantaged by unresolved issues surrounding their WAEC results.

The private schools’ association said it presented comparative performance data from the 2025 and 2026 WASSCE examinations during its meeting with the Education Minister.

According to NAPPS, the data indicated an improvement in candidates’ overall performance at the credit-pass level in 2026.

However, the association said the figures appeared difficult to reconcile with the pattern of results released by WAEC and reports of widespread poor performance among candidates who took the examination through the Computer-Based Examination (CBE) format.

NAPPS said significant declines were also recorded in some subjects.

It identified a decline of more than 30 per cent in Igbo Language and about 19 per cent in Physics.

The association said these disparities had been presented to the Minister for further consideration and review. NAPPS also disclosed that WAEC would conduct the ongoing remarking exercise requested by schools without charging them additional fees.

The association said the Education Minister informed stakeholders that the exercise would be conducted on a pro bono basis.

So far, 28 schools have reportedly had their candidates’ results remarked.

NAPPS said there were no changes to the results of 25 of the schools, while only marginal changes were recorded in the remaining three.

The remarking exercise is expected to help determine whether some of the complaints about the 2026 results were caused by errors in marking or other issues in the examination and result-processing system.

NAPPS said WAEC had been urged to engage more extensively with private schools and other stakeholders after the remarking and review exercises are concluded.

The association said the examination body would be expected to provide a detailed statistical report explaining candidates’ performance in the 2026 WASSCE.

It also wants WAEC to respond to concerns raised by schools over the apparent disparities in performance across different subjects and examination formats.

NAPPS said the Education Minister’s office would consider its request for the establishment of an investigative committee after the ongoing consultations, reviews and remarking exercises have been completed.

The ministry is also expected to follow up with WAEC on candidates whose results remain outstanding.

Government Encourages Greater Use Of NECO

The meeting also examined the Federal Government’s relationship with WAEC and its ability to directly intervene in the examination council’s activities.

NAPPS said the Minister’s office explained that the Federal Government has limited direct control over WAEC because it is a regional examination body.

Against this background, schools were encouraged to make greater use of NECO as an alternative examination pathway.

NAPPS also called for improvements in NECO’s public engagement and communication.

The association said NECO needs to strengthen its relationship with schools, parents and candidates, improve public confidence in its examinations and promote wider acceptance of its results.

The issue of students being denied access to their examination results because of unpaid school fees was also discussed.

NAPPS said private schools should establish more effective mechanisms for recovering outstanding fees rather than withholding students’ WASSCE results.

The association also acknowledged the need for WAEC to improve its technological infrastructure and digital systems.

It said stronger systems would help improve the efficiency, security and credibility of examination administration and result management.

The association said stakeholders must continue working to dismantle the examination malpractice system involving students, parents, schools and compromised officials within examination bodies.

WAEC has maintained that the poor performance recorded in the 2026 WASSCE was largely linked to stronger measures introduced to combat malpractice.

Among the measures reportedly introduced was the serialisation of examination questions, which was designed to make it more difficult for candidates to engage in coordinated cheating.

NAPPS acknowledged the importance of tackling examination malpractice but said WAEC should provide clear statistical evidence showing how the new anti-malpractice measures affected the 2026 results.

The association said stakeholders needed evidence-based explanations rather than relying solely on assumptions about the reasons for the sharp changes in candidates’ performance.

The controversy over the 2026 WASSCE has increased calls for greater transparency and communication from examination authorities.

NAPPS said WAEC should engage schools and other stakeholders more effectively and provide detailed information that can explain the unusual patterns observed in the results.

The association’s position is that efforts to eliminate examination malpractice must continue, but such measures should be accompanied by transparent data and clear explanations of their impact on candidates.

As the remarking exercise continues and the government considers further action, affected candidates will also have additional time through the JAMB admission extension to explore alternative options using their NECO results.

The developments are expected to keep attention focused on the credibility of the 2026 WASSCE results and the broader need to strengthen Nigeria’s examination and admissions systems.