Dare Babalola
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has denied issuing a directive restricting Senior Secondary students to specific subjects for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates, dismissing reports alleging such restrictions.
WAEC described the reports as unfounded and urged schools and the public to disregard them, according to a statement by acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adeshina, on Tuesday.
Amid recent social media reports suggesting that schools had been directed to limit students’ subject combinations for the 2026 examination, WAEC reiterated that such claims were false and not issued by the Council.
WAEC clarifies it doesn’t issue directives on senior secondary curricula development or modification, as this falls under the Federal Government’s purview through relevant education authorities.
“WAEC wishes to categorically distance itself from this unfounded assumption and the information making the rounds on the said subject. The Council did not issue any such directive(s) nor restrict the choice of students to offer any particular subject(s) for WASSCE (SC) 2026 as alleged,” the statement read.
It emphasised that WAEC’s role was limited to implementing government-approved curricula through its examinations and that it operates strictly within the legal and operational frameworks set by the Nigerian government.
“The development and regulation of Curricula in Nigeria is within the purview of the Federal Government. WAEC, as an examination body, only comes in to implement government policies via assessment,” it added.
The Council further assured stakeholders that any change to the curriculum would follow due process and not be introduced arbitrarily.
WAEC, established in 1952, conducts examinations across five West African countries—Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Liberia—and has maintained a reputation for fairness and credibility in student assessment.
“Schools, stakeholders, and the general public are hereby advised to disregard the misleading reports and rely solely on official communications from the Council for accurate information regarding examination guidelines for WASSCE (SC) 2026,” the statement concluded.
The Council reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, excellence, and the equitable assessment of all candidates, assuring that no student would be disadvantaged in the forthcoming examination.
