The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has debunked circulating reports claiming that it had directed secondary schools to restrict students to certain subjects for the upcoming 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adeshina, on behalf of the Head of National Office, the Council described the claims as “unfounded assumptions” and urged schools, parents, and the general public to disregard them.
Recent posts on social media had alleged that WAEC instructed schools to limit students’ subject combinations for the 2026 examination. However, the examination body firmly denied the claim, clarifying that no such directive was ever issued.
According to the statement, WAEC does not have the authority to modify or determine the curriculum for senior secondary education, as that responsibility lies solely with the Federal Government through the appropriate 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.
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The Council emphasised that its role is limited to implementing government-approved curricula through examinations and that it operates strictly within the legal and administrative frameworks established 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.
WAEC assured stakeholders that any change to the school curriculum would follow due process and would not be introduced arbitrarily.
Established in 1952, the Council conducts examinations across five West African countries—Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Liberia—and is widely known for maintaining integrity and fairness in its assessment processes.
“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.
WAEC reiterated its commitment to professionalism, excellence, and fairness, assuring that no student would be disadvantaged in the forthcoming examination.
