West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Memo Sparks Nationwide Outcry as Stakeholders Demand Clarity on 2026 Curriculum Changes

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02/12/25 • 45 Bekeken • 0 Delen • Gepubliceerd in anders

A memo reportedly circulated internally by the examination body has ignited fresh controversy across Nigeria’s education sector — just as many students and parents try to navigate the upcoming 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). According to the internal circular distributed to principals, the new curriculum slated for 2026 appears to carry significant changes — including adjustments to subject combinations, the omission of some longstanding subjects, and the introduction of restructured trade and digital-technology courses. Nigeria Education News+2Fij+2

The uproar follows earlier public denials by WAEC that any restrictions or changes had been imposed on subject choices for 2026. In late October, a WAEC spokesperson insisted that the organisation remained bound by the official curricula approved by the government — and that no such directive had been issued. Vanguard News+2Thisdaylive+2 But the memo has reopened the debate, fueling confusion, skepticism, and anger among parents, teachers and students who fear they are being left in the dark. Nigeria Education News+2Democratic Socialist Movement+2

Particularly alarming for many has been the memo’s alleged exclusion of digital-technology and computer-related subjects from the list of examinable courses in 2026 — at a time when Nigeria is deepening its push for digital literacy. Educational activists argue that removing such subjects undermines the goal of equipping students for a technology-driven world. Nigeria Education News+2News Express Nigeria+2

Meanwhile, critics — including the Education Rights Campaign (ERC) — have voiced concern over the rushed and opaque way the reforms appear to be unfolding. In a letter to the government, ERC described the approach as “unfair, irrational and disruptive,” warning that students who began Senior Secondary School under the old curriculum could be unfairly disadvantaged. They called on the authorities to suspend the implementation of the new curriculum for current students and to allow only those starting from SS1 in 2025 to write under the revised system. Adamimogo FM Nigeria+2Democratic Socialist Movement+2

For now, stakeholders continue to demand clarity: schools want precise guidelines, parents want assurance that their children won’t be caught unawares, and students yearn for transparency so they can prepare adequately. With the examination date fast approaching, they are calling on WAEC and the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) to issue clear, authoritative directives — and to do so swiftly.

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