Senate Urges Caution As WAEC Moves To Implement New Curriculum

The Senate has called for caution as the West African Examination Council (WAEC) seeks to implement a new curriculum for candidates waiting to write their senior secondary school certificate in 2026.

WAEC had earlier slated the new curriculum for the 2027/2028 examination season, but suddenly reversed itself by seeking to implement it in the 2026 examination calendar.

The matter came up for debate on Tuesday with a motion moved by Senator Sunday Karimi, who warned that the sudden change in curriculum could cause mass failure among senior secondary school leavers.

Karimi, who led the debate, warned that both WAEC and the Federal Ministry of Education were ill-prepared for the abrupt policy change.

According to him, the shift had led to the removal of subjects like Computer Studies, Civic Education and other pre-existing courses from the WAEC syllabus for the May/June 2026 examination.

The senator said the decision ignored the fact that the students have been preparing themselves for the subjects over the years.

With the adjustment in curriculum, Karimi said most students would now be left with only six examinable subjects, instead of the required minimum of eight and maximum of nine.

Other senators who backed Karimi’s position said WAEC and the Federal Ministry of Education must act in line with Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution.

The Section places the welfare of citizens at the centre of governance, while Section 18 mandates the government to ensure equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels.

Edo North senator, Adams Oshiomhole, who seconded the motion, condemned what he called a “culture of anarchism” in education policy implementation.

He faulted the introduction of a new curriculum without adequate teachers, laboratories, equipment or proper notification to parents and schools.

“You cannot wake up overnight and say that in June, students will be examined on a subject they have not been taught. Intentions are not enough. Proper homework must be done,” Oshiomhole said.

He urged the Senate to invite the Minister of Education and the relevant agencies to provide evidence of preparedness before such a major policy shift is allowed.

Also, Senator Oluranti Adebule supported the motion but noted that major educational decisions must pass through the National Council on Education, involving all state commissioners. She called for a wider investigation into the entire proposed curriculum review.

Senator Solomon Adeola also backed the motion, observing that many of the newly introduced subjects, including cosmetology, fashion design, garment making, livestock farming, GSM repairs and solar installation, are purely practical and require facilities that most schools do not have.

After extensive deliberations, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, ruled that the Minister of Education, heads of relevant education agencies, and the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education should meet to address the concerns raised.

Akpabio added that the Senate had already directed that the current senior secondary school 3 students be exempted from the new curriculum.

He, however, agreed that full engagement with the ministry and other stakeholders was necessary before any final directive.

“These are very weighty issues. We cannot risk mass failure in the 2026 WAEC examinations. The relevant committees should invite the Minister immediately and report back within two weeks.”

The Senate insisted that the matter must be resolved before the end of the year to safeguard the academic future of students nationwide.