Nigeria WAEC Updates Compulsory Subjects for 2026 WASSCE, Introduces New Curriculum

The Digest:

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced updates to the compulsory subjects for candidates writing the May/June 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). While five core subjects have been defined, students will only be examined on three until 2028, when new curricula are fully implemented.

KeyPoints:

• WAEC confirmed five compulsory subjects for future WASSCE exams.
• For 2026 and 2027, only three will be tested: English, Maths, and one Trade Subject.
• Two new subjects, Citizenship Education and Digital Technologies, will debut in 2028.
• Science students are permitted to register for Economics as an elective.
• Trade subjects have been streamlined from 26 to six, with some renamed.
• Schools are categorized for a gradual migration to full Computer-Based Testing (CBT).
• WAEC clarified that it only assesses government-developed curricula and does not create them.

As the landscape of learning evolves, this update marks another step in aligning education with modern demands, reshaping the foundation upon which a generation’s future will be built.

Sources: Nigerian Tribune, The Punch