The verdict came on Friday, August 21, 2026, seven weeks after exams ended: Secondary Education Minister Pauline Nalova Lyonga announced an overall pass rate of 67.88% for the 2026 General Certificate of Education (GCE), down from 75.46% the previous year.
Of 196,579 registered candidates, 133,429 passed. The drop is sharpest at Advanced Level, where the pass rate fell to 61.78% (43,211 out of 69,947 candidates), a decline of over 17 points. Ordinary Level held up better, at 74.43% (65,539 out of 88,053). Only the intermediate technical stream (TVEE) improved, at 60.50%, up more than 8 points.
The decline follows a chaotic session: the GCE Board recorded over 2,700 confirmed fraud cases, triggering leaked papers on social media, temporary suspensions, and a results delay well beyond the usual schedule.
For candidates who failed, particularly at Advanced Level, the school year starting in two weeks brings uncertainty, between resit sessions and reorientation.
