WAEC Dismisses Rumors on Subject Restrictions for 2026 WASSCE Candidates

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has debunked claims circulating online that it has imposed subject restrictions for Senior Secondary School students sitting for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates.

In a statement released on Tuesday by the Acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adeshina, on behalf of the Head of National Office, the Council described the viral reports as baseless and misleading. WAEC urged schools, students, and parents to disregard the false information, stressing that it never issued any directive limiting subject combinations.

According to the statement, WAEC made it clear that it does not have the authority to determine or modify secondary school curricula. That responsibility lies entirely with the Federal Government through its education agencies.

“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 nor restrict the choice of students to offer any particular subject(s) for WASSCE (SC) 2026 as alleged,” the statement read.

The Council emphasized that its function is limited to conducting examinations based on government-approved curricula and that it operates strictly within the framework established by Nigerian education authorities.

WAEC further explained that any development or adjustment to the school curriculum must follow official procedures approved by the relevant education bodies. The Council reassured the public that it only implements policies set by the government and does not act independently in such matters.

“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 through its assessments,” the statement added.

WAEC also reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, transparency, and professionalism in all its examination processes. It stated that no student will be disadvantaged in the upcoming 2026 WASSCE and advised the public to rely solely on verified communications from the Council.

Established in 1952, WAEC conducts public examinations in five West African countries—Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Liberia. Over the years, it has built a strong reputation for credible and impartial assessment of candidates across the subregion.

“Schools, stakeholders, and the general public are hereby advised to disregard the misleading reports and depend only on official information from the Council for accurate details regarding examination guidelines for WASSCE (SC) 2026,” the statement concluded.

The Council reiterated its dedication to upholding educational standards, promoting excellence, and ensuring equity for all candidates participating in its examinations.