The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has refuted reports claiming that students have been restricted to specific subjects for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates.
A statement issued on Tuesday by the Acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adeshina, on behalf of the Head of National Office, described the circulating reports as untrue and misleading. WAEC urged schools, stakeholders, and the public to ignore the claims.
Recent social media posts alleged that schools received directives limiting students’ subject combinations ahead of the 2026 exams. However, WAEC stressed that it has not issued any such instructions.
The examination body explained that it does not control curriculum development or modification in senior secondary schools. That responsibility, it said, belongs solely to the Federal Government through the appropriate education authorities.
WAEC reaffirmed that its role is to conduct examinations strictly based on government-approved curricula and policies. It further assured that any official changes to the curriculum would follow due process and would never be introduced arbitrarily.
Established in 1952, the Council conducts standardized examinations in five West African countries—Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Liberia—and maintains a long-standing reputation for fairness and credibility.
WAEC advised the public to rely only on authenticated information from the Council regarding examination guidelines for the 2026 WASSCE. It also reassured candidates that no student would be disadvantaged or restricted from offering their preferred subjects in the upcoming examinations.
