The Education Rights Campaign (ERC) has expressed dissatisfaction with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC)‘s recent reinstatement of certain subjects for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The ERC has criticised the reinstatement as “piecemeal” and urged WAEC to fully revert to the old curriculum in order to protect students from being forced to sit for subjects they have not studied.

In a statement issued on Thursday, December 11, 2025, the ERC condemned WAEC’s December 10 communication to school principals, which reinstated Civic Education and Computer Studies (now relabeled Digital Technologies) as examinable subjects for the upcoming WASSCE. While the group acknowledged the reinstatement of these subjects as a positive development following public outcry and pressure from the National Assembly, they argued that the move was insufficient.

Concerns Over Incomplete Reinstatement

The ERC contended that the reinstatement of just two subjects was far from adequate, as the majority of students would still face difficulties in registering for the required minimum of eight subjects. According to the group, students would be compelled to register for entirely new subjects they had never studied in order to meet the required number of subjects.

For example, the ERC pointed out that business students currently studying Storekeeping and Insurance were unable to register for these subjects, as they were unavailable in WAEC’s registration portal. Similarly, arts and science students faced similar obstacles with subjects such as Dyeing and Bleaching and Data Processing, which had not been made available.

The ERC highlighted that these gaps would create significant challenges for students, potentially jeopardizing their academic progress and future prospects.

Inconsistencies in WAEC’s Communication

The ERC also flagged what it described as “glaring inconsistencies” in WAEC’s communication. The group cited a November 21, 2025, letter from WAEC, which had stated that Digital Technologies would not be examined until 2028 due to the lack of a curriculum and syllabus. This directly contradicted the December 10 letter, which treated Digital Technologies as a direct replacement for Computer Studies in the 2026 exam.

Such contradictions, the ERC warned, were undermining trust in the education system and contributing to confusion among students, teachers, and parents.

Call for Full Return to Old Curriculum

In light of these issues, the ERC has called for the 2026 WASSCE to be based entirely on the full set of subjects from the old curriculum. The group stressed that this was the only way to ensure fairness for current SSS 3 students who have been preparing for exams based on a set curriculum for the past several years.

The ERC argued that WAEC’s current approach represented a “stop-gap measure” driven more by ego than by genuine concern for students’ welfare. The group emphasized that without a complete return to the old curriculum, thousands of students could face undue disadvantage, especially those who have already begun preparing for specific subjects.

Calls for Continued Pressure on WAEC and Ministry of Education

The ERC urged the National Assembly and the public to maintain pressure on both the Ministry of Education and WAEC to ensure that the upcoming exams are fair and equitable. They warned that if no further intervention occurred, many students could be placed at an unfair disadvantage by what they described as an “unjust, irrational decision” on the part of WAEC.

Conclusion

The ongoing controversy over WAEC’s handling of the 2026 WASSCE underscores the growing frustration among students, parents, and education advocates about the state of Nigeria’s educational system. With many students feeling the brunt of educational disruptions, the ERC’s call for a return to the old curriculum represents a broader concern for ensuring that the examination system is both fair and transparent for all students, especially those in their final year of secondary education.