A prominent education rights organisation has slammed the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) over what it calls a disregard for legitimate concerns about the upcoming 2026 West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). In a statement issued early December, Education Rights Campaign (ERC) criticised the Ministry’s December 6 clarification as failing to confront the real issues raised by parents, teachers and students. According to ERC, the press release sidestepped what matters most, the fact that many current SSS3 students are being forced to register for and sit exams in subjects they were never taught under the previous curriculum.
While the Ministry insists that students may choose any approved subject and that the new Senior Secondary School Curriculum is flexible and student-centred, even allowing science students to pick arts or social-science electives, ERC argues that the reality is far more troubling. Thousands of students are being compelled to select completely new subjects simply because the old ones no longer appear on the WAEC portal. For a generation already under pressure to perform, this last-minute scramble is nothing short of academic injustice. Sahara Reporters
Table of Contents
New curriculum scramble places students at a disadvantage
Under the new curriculum, commonly taught subjects such as Civic Education, Computer Studies, Tourism, Storekeeping and Insurance have reportedly been removed from the 2026 WAEC registration portal. For many students, that means they must opt for unfamiliar subjects with only a few months left before the examination. ERC offered a stark warning: this forced shift, coming after years of syllabus under the old system, could cripple students’ ability to perform well.
For example, a science student who had prepared through Secondary School with Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics and Computer Studies now faces the daunting task of registering two or more completely new subjects. Similarly, business or humanities students may be required to replace up to three previous subjects to meet WAEC’s eight-subject requirement. The implications are deeply alarming: a rushed subject overhaul, insufficient time to prepare, and a high likelihood of poor performance, according to Sahara Reporters.
What compounds the frustration is that the new curriculum was supposed to be introduced only at the beginning of a new three-year cycle — meaning the first batch sitting under it would be students now in SSS1, not SSS3. In other words, current SSS3 students were expected to write the 2026 WASSCE using the old curriculum, a timeline originally proposed by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) and acknowledged by stakeholders.
ERC described the decision to force changes now as “incomprehensible,” calling it unfair, unjust and disruptive to the futures of many youths across the country.
Backlash and demand for a delay from lawmakers and civil society
The uproar is not limited to ERC. Only days earlier, the House of Representatives passed a resolution on December 4 calling on the Ministry to halt the implementation of the new curriculum for the 2026 WASSCE. According to the lawmakers, requiring students to suddenly register for new subjects with little or no preparation is academically irresponsible.
The motion of urgent public importance moved by a member of the House argued that most secondary schools simply lack the resources for such a radical transition. The lawmakers warned that pushing ahead could lead to widespread poor performance, mass failures, and long-term consequences for affected students. They urged the government to postpone the rollout and give schools and students the time to adapt properly.
Civil society stakeholders and parents have added their voices. Many argue that the move undermines the fairness and stability of national examinations, and that children preparing under the old curriculum are being unfairly disadvantaged. For them, this is not just a policy glitch — it is a matter of educational justice and the future of Nigeria’s youth.
Call for clarity, fairness and suspension of rushed rollout
In light of the mounting criticism, ERC has urged the Education Ministry and WAEC to shelve the 2026 WASSCE plan under the new curriculum and allow the existing syllabus to run until 2027. They argue that the reshuffle should take effect only when those who started under the new system (i.e. current SSS1) complete the three-year cycle and reach SSS3, meaning their first WASSCE would be in 2028. This, ERC says, would align with NERDC guidelines and give learners and schools adequate time to prepare.
Moreover, ERC has urged the Ministry to address the concerns transparently: explain why current students are being compelled into unplanned adjustments, clarify the future of subjects like Digital Technology, Civic Education and others, and provide a clear timeline and support structures, including textbooks, teacher training, and exam readiness, before subjecting young Nigerians to a high-stakes exam under unfamiliar terms.
As the countdown to 2026 WASSCE continues, the ball lies squarely in the Ministry’s court. Will it choose to respond with clarity and fairness? Or risk derailing the academic futures of thousands of Nigerian youths through what many have labelled ‘misguided’ reform?
Join Our Social Media Channels:
WhatsApp: NaijaEyes
Facebook: NaijaEyes
Twitter: NaijaEyes
Instagram: NaijaEyes
TikTok: NaijaEyes
READ THE LATEST EDUCATION NEWS
