The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in Liberia has confirmed that the Government of Liberia has fully paid examination fees for all 12th grade students sitting this year’s national exams. Speaking during a regular press briefing in Monrovia, WAEC Liberia Head Dale Gbotoe clarified that no candidate is required to pay any fees, as the government has already settled all associated costs. Gbotoe disclosed that a total of 57,393 candidates have registered for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, stressing that the fee waiver applies to all eligible students, whether enrolled in public or private institutions.
He, however, raised concern over reports that some schools are allegedly collecting money from students under the false claim that the government has not paid the fees. Gbotoe described such actions as “false and misleading,” and urged students and parents to report any school demanding unauthorized payments. Meanwhile, WAEC also announced the official examination schedule for the 2025/2026 academic year. The Liberia Junior High School Certificate Examination for 9th graders is set for April 20–21, 2026, while the Liberia Primary School Certificate Examination for 6th graders will take place on April 23–24, 2026.
The Liberia National Assessment Test for 3rd graders is scheduled for April 22, 2026. The WASSCE for 12th graders will commence on June 1, 2026 to June 17, 2026 In a broader update, WAEC revealed that approximately 200,000 candidates have registered nationwide for the upcoming examinations. The figure also includes candidates from three schools in the Guinea, reflecting continued cross-border participation in the regional examination system. Gbotoe assured the public that preparations are ongoing to ensure a smooth, transparent, and credible examination process across Liberia.
Author: Samuel B. Johnson
