The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has debunked viral reports alleging that it directed schools to limit subject choices for students sitting the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
In a statement released on Tuesday by the Acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adeshina, on behalf of the Head of National Office, WAEC described the reports as “unfounded assumptions” and urged the public to disregard them.
The Council clarified that it has not issued any directive restricting students from offering specific subjects and does not have the authority to alter school curricula.
“WAEC wishes to categorically distance itself from this unfounded assumption. The Council did not issue any such directive nor restrict students’ subject choices for WASSCE (SC) 2026,” the statement read.
WAEC explained that curriculum development and regulation in Nigeria are the exclusive responsibilities of the Federal Government through relevant education authorities, while the Council’s role is limited to conducting examinations based on approved curricula.
“The development and regulation of curricula in Nigeria is within the purview of the Federal Government. WAEC only implements government policies through assessment,” the statement added.
The Council assured stakeholders that any future changes to the curriculum would follow due process and be communicated officially, warning against reliance on unverified social media reports.
WAEC reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, professionalism, and credible assessment, assuring that no student will be disadvantaged in the forthcoming 2026 examination.
Established in 1952, WAEC conducts examinations across Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Liberia, and is widely regarded for maintaining credibility in educational assessment.
