The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has announced what it describes as a record performance in the 2026 Gambia Basic Education Certificate Examination, with more than 16,000 students qualifying for senior secondary school.

A total of 33,289 candidates registered for this year’s examination, including 19,923 females and 13,366 males.

The ministry said results for 31,797 candidates, representing 95.52% of those registered, have been processed, while 1,492 results remain outstanding.

Of the outstanding results, 171 have been withheld over alleged examination irregularities.

According to the ministry, 54.5% of candidates achieved an aggregate score of 42 or below, qualifying 16,964 students for senior secondary school placement.

The results also show an increase in the number of students achieving top grades.

A total of 457 candidates obtained aggregate scores between 6 and 9, while 76 students achieved the highest possible Aggregate 6.

The ministry said the number of students achieving Aggregate 6 increased by 26.7% compared with 2025.

Science was another area of improvement, with the national pass rate rising to 65.1%, compared with 57.3% in 2025.
Female candidates also recorded strong results.

The ministry said female students achieved a national pass rate of 56.4%, while they accounted for 50 of the 76 students who obtained Aggregate 6.

Women also represented 293 of the 457 candidates who achieved aggregate scores between 6 and 9.

Overall, the ministry said 24,058 students, representing 75.66% of candidates across the different performance categories, attained passing grades.

However, 7,094 students, or 22.31%, fell within the lower-pass bracket of aggregates 43 to 48.

The ministry said this group presents an opportunity for targeted remedial programmes and technical education pathways to help students improve their academic outcomes.

The results also showed differences in performance across the regions.
Region 5 North recorded the highest overall pass rate at 67.4%, placing it above the national average of 54.5%.

The region had 1,018 candidates and recorded a 71.6% pass rate among male candidates and 65.2% among females.
Region 2 East followed with a 59.1% pass rate among 1,907 candidates.

Region 2 West, which had the largest number of candidates at 13,117, recorded a 54.2% pass rate and produced 7,109 qualified students.

Region 1 recorded a 55.3% pass rate among 7,199 candidates, with female candidates performing at 60.2%, compared with 48.1% for males.

Region 4 recorded a 55.1% pass rate among 1,414 candidates, with almost identical results for male and female candidates.
Female candidates also outperformed males in Region 3, where the overall pass rate stood at 53%.

Region 6 recorded a 50.8% pass rate, while male candidates recorded a 53% pass rate compared with 49.3% among females.

The ministry said the 2026 results demonstrate progress in basic education, particularly in Science, overall pass rates and female academic performance.

By Adama Makasuba