Nigeria’s Curriculum Shake-Up Sparks WASSCE Concerns Ahead of 2026 Exams
Story: written by Joseph November 14,2025
With less than a year to go before the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), Nigeria’s curriculum overhaul is causing unease among parents, teachers, and education stakeholders. The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) plans to test new subjects from the revised national curriculum, including Citizenship and Heritage Studies and Digital Technologies, raising fears that students may be unprepared.
Many experts argue that high-stakes exams like WASSCE should allow a three-year lead time before introducing new subjects, suggesting 2028 as a more reasonable starting point for current Senior Secondary School (SSS1) students.
Calls for Gradual Implementation
Stanley Boroh, senior lecturer at the Federal University, Otuoke, praised the curriculum’s global relevance but urged WAEC to delay its rollout. “While the new subjects are commendable, the exam body should allow more time so no student feels left behind,” he said. Boroh also stressed the importance of practical learning environments to support courses like Digital Technology.
Nubi Achebo, Director of Academic Planning at the Nigerian University of Technology and Management (NUTM), echoed these concerns. He noted that many schools have yet to complete the new syllabus, especially for trade and science components, which could disadvantage students. Achebo recommended nationwide teacher training, online modules, and fully equipped computer-based testing (CBT) centres with reliable electricity and internet before exams commence.
Isaiah Ogundele, an education administrator, expressed skepticism about WAEC’s readiness, citing potential fund mismanagement and inadequate facilities. “New subjects, no trained personnel, no electricity—this could lead to mass failures, wasting students’ time and parents’ resources,” he warned.
Support for Timely Reform
Some educators, however, believe the reform is necessary. Teacher Gift Osikoya described the introduction of Digital Technology and other subjects as essential for equipping students for the modern workforce, while acknowledging concerns about fairness and readiness. She emphasized that many rural schools still struggle with insufficient facilities and limited access to trained teachers and digital resources, creating a gap between students in well-equipped and under-resourced schools.
Osikoya called for adequate preparation, teacher support, and student guidance to ensure the curriculum’s success, stressing that effective learning takes time, consistent teaching, and practice.
Meanwhile, some parents, like Friday Erhabor, insist the new curriculum should take immediate effect, urging students to adapt quickly to the chan
