WAEC Clarifies: No Restriction on Senior Secondary Subjects for 2026 WASSCE

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has officially debunked viral claims circulating online that it directed schools to restrict students’ subject choices for the upcoming 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates.

In a press statement released on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, by the Acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, WAEC emphasized that it has not issued any directive asking schools to limit the number of subjects or specific subject combinations for students preparing for the 2026 WASSCE.

WAEC Distances Itself from False Reports

According to the Council, the misleading reports suggesting that WAEC had streamlined the senior secondary curriculum are completely unfounded and inaccurate.

WAEC clarified that:

“The Council did not issue any such directive or restrict the choice of students to offer any particular subject(s) for WASSCE (SC) 2026 as alleged.”

The body further explained that the development and regulation of school curricula in Nigeria fall strictly under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, not WAEC. The Council only implements policies through examination assessments once the curriculum is officially approved by the government.

WAEC Reaffirms Its Role and Legal Boundaries

WAEC reiterated that it operates within the legal and operational frameworks of its host countries and would never alter or introduce a curriculum arbitrarily. Any modification to the senior secondary curriculum, the statement explained, must go through proper channels under the Federal Ministry of Education.

“The introduction or modification of any curriculum in Nigeria is a function of the Federal Government. WAEC only comes in to implement approved policies,” the statement read.

Stakeholders Advised to Disregard Fake News

The Council urged schools, teachers, parents, and students to ignore misleading online publications and rely only on official updates from WAEC regarding examination guidelines or subject registration.

WAEC also assured stakeholders that it remains committed to professionalism, transparency, and excellence in serving Nigerian students.

“All candidates participating in the 2026 WASSCE for School Candidates will be given fair opportunity for assessment, ensuring that no candidate is disenfranchised,” WAEC assured.