Nigerian education advocate, Alex Onyia, has come under fire over claims that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) was enforcing sudden curriculum changes that would lead to mass failure in the forthcoming 2026 WASSCE.
Raising alarm on X (formerly Twitter), Onyia wrote: “WAEC is about to cause mass failure in 2026! Due to sudden curriculum changes, WAEC has removed key subjects like Computer Studies, Data Processing, Photography, Electrical & Installation Maintenance. Students who’ve studied these subjects since SS1 are now being forced to pick new subjects with less than 6 months to prepare. Meanwhile, no access to the new curriculum and no teacher training has been provided.
“To make things worse, WAEC insists on a registration deadline of Oct 30, 2025. This is unacceptable. If this isn’t reversed immediately, we will take legal action.
WAEC’s negligence is setting up an entire nation for failure.”
His statement sparked mixed reactions online, with many users fact-checking and criticising him for spreading misleading information.
Jovee Romeo (@romeo_jovee) corrected him: “That’s not true. The new changes which come from the Federal Government through the Ministry of Education take effect the present SS 1 students.”
Raheem Mutiu, PhD (@winexviv), rebuked Onyia for creating confusion: “You seem to be uninformed about the subject you are discussing. Please verify the accuracy of the information before posting. The failure will damage your credibility and hurt the people you seek to inform.”
He added, “WAEC doesn’t design curriculum and doesn’t determine the type of examination to conduct in any of the 5 West African member states. The Federal Ministry of Education determines this, and WAEC doesn’t have the power to decline the directive of the Federal Government.”
“The same directive was given to NECO and other examination bodies, but you seem to be reductionist and failed to grasp the whole issue before jumping online and making it a WAEC issue. WAEC didn’t give a deadline to anyone on the issue of curriculum and registration of candidates.
“I will advise that you contact WAEC directly on this issue or contact the Federal Ministry of Education before posting, so that you don’t create more harm to the candidates and parents.”
WEB 3 Marketer (@Radiant_Qu…) also faulted the claims: “No examination body is forcing the new curriculum on candidates. The CASS software is being updated to accommodate old subjects as well.”
Some users, however, sided with Onyia, questioning the rationale behind altering technical subjects.
iloveparadise π (@iloveparadise) asked: “Computer studies removed? In this age of computer? Nawa o. Data Processing removed?”
Others expressed frustration with policymakers over constant education changes: Ineme Dan (@ineme_dan) wrote, “Do the policy makers in education in this country actually use their brains?”
WAEC Denies Making Any Curriculum Changes
WAEC, in a statement signed by Moyosola Adeshina, Acting Head of Public Affairs, dismissed the claims as misleading and unfounded. The Council said it never issued any directive restricting subject options for WASSCE 2026, advising the public to disregard such information.
The examination body explained that curriculum development and regulation fall strictly under the authority of the Federal Government through its education agencies, not WAEC.
WAEC assured students and schools that no candidate will be disadvantaged, as the Council remains committed to providing equal opportunities and following established government procedures.
