The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) has officially outlined the proposed timeline for the 2026 national and international school examinations in Sierra Leone.

In a formal letter dated April 2, 2026, addressed to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) National Office in Freetown, Chief Education Officer Edward K. Pakra detailed the upcoming schedule for primary, junior secondary, and senior secondary students.

According to the MBSSE directive, the examinations will follow this proposed schedule:

WASSCE (West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination): The earliest exams to kick off will be the WASSCE, scheduled to run over a nearly two-month period from Wednesday, April 21 to June 19, 2026.

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NPSE (National Primary School Examination): Primary school students will sit for their national exams on a single day, Saturday, May 9, 2026.

BECE (Basic Education Certificate Examination): The junior secondary exams will span roughly two weeks, taking place from Thursday, June 25 through Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

The 2026 timeline represents a slight shift from the previous year’s academic calendar. Notably, the WASSCE will begin a few days earlier than the 2025 cycle, while the NPSE and BECE have been pushed back by approximately one week compared to their 2025 dates.

The formal notification allows WAEC to begin logistical preparations for the nationwide administration of the tests later this year.