The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has dismissed as fake a viral document circulating on social media claiming that the examination body had released a list of 50 secondary schools whose 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results were withheld over alleged examination malpractice.
The clarification followed the widespread circulation of a purported official letter listing schools across several states and directing their principals to submit reports within 14 days or face additional sanctions. WAEC, however, stated that the document did not originate from the Council and urged members of the public to disregard it.
In a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) platform, WAEC described the letter as false and warned candidates, parents, school administrators and the general public against relying on unverified information circulating on social media.
According to the Council, the purported list of affected schools is entirely fabricated and should not be treated as an official communication from WAEC.
The clarification comes shortly after WAEC released the results of the 2026 Computer-Based WASSCE for School Candidates, during which it announced that 167,486 candidates’ results had been withheld over alleged examination malpractice pending the conclusion of investigations.
However, the Council did not publish any list identifying schools allegedly involved in malpractice, making the viral document misleading and unauthorised.
Education experts have cautioned candidates and school authorities against spreading or acting on unofficial examination information, noting that false reports can create unnecessary anxiety among students and parents, especially during the admission season.
They advised the public to rely only on announcements released through WAEC’s verified communication channels and official website for updates relating to examination results, investigations and admission requirements.
The incident also highlights the growing challenge of misinformation within Nigeria’s education sector, where fabricated admission lists, fake examination notices and fraudulent circulars frequently circulate on social media during major examination periods.
Analysts say such misinformation can undermine public confidence in examination bodies and expose candidates to scams, misinformation and avoidable panic.
WAEC reiterated its commitment to maintaining the integrity of public examinations and urged candidates with genuine concerns regarding withheld results to follow the Council’s established procedures rather than rely on unofficial documents.
The examination body also encouraged schools, parents and candidates to verify all examination-related information before sharing it, stressing that official communications will always be disseminated through recognised WAEC platforms.
