WAEC Liberia has put itself under intense public backlash. The situation follows a “serious administrative failure” after candidates (students) reportedly sat the 2026/2027 examinations without calculators for Physics and Mathematics.
Reports from examination centers indicate that students were forced to take the test papers without access to calculators; an essential tool to solve numerical and scientific problems.
The situation raised widespread anger among parents, teachers, and education stakeholders, including some of the students.
The Head of WAEC Monrovia Office, Dale Gboto, attributed the decision to ban the use of calculators to “shortage of the items on the market.”
Critics described the situation as unacceptable.
They argued that it reflects poor planning and weak logistical coordination in a national examination system that is to uphold strict academic standards.
In several counties, including Grand Kru, frustrated reports suggest that students were left struggling mid-exam due to the absence of calculators, with some reportedly attempting to source them after realizing they had not been provided the chance to purchase one on their own.
Education stakeholders have openly questioned how such a basic requirement could be overlooked in a standardized national examination.
They warned that the development risks undermining the credibility of the entire assessment process.
Many have also expressed concern that students may end up being “unfairly blamed” for poor performance, despite being placed at a disadvantage created by institutional failure.
Calls have grown louder for WAEC Liberia to urgently explain the lapse, take responsibility, and ensure that such an incident is never
repeated, as pressure mounts over fairness, accountability, and the integrity of national exams.