Senate Queries WAEC, Education Minister Over New SSCE Guidelines

The Senate has summoned the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Head of the National Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Dr. Amos Dangut, to explain the new guidelines introduced for the 2025/2026 Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE). The guidelines, which alter the subject requirements for SS3 students, have raised concerns among senators that the sudden changes could lead to mass failure .

Senators have expressed concerns that the new guidelines would place undue pressure on students, who would be compelled to sit for papers they had not been adequately prepared for. Senator Sunday Karimi, who sponsored the motion, urged the Senate to exclude the 2025/2026 SSCE candidates from the new guidelines and recommended that the changes take effect from the 2027/2028 examinations .

Senator Adams Oshiomhole emphasized the importance of proper preparation before implementing new guidelines, questioning whether there were enough teachers and laboratories to support the changes. Senator Adeola Olamilekan also stressed that students need to have prior knowledge of new subjects before being examined .

The Senate has referred the matter to the Committee on Basic and Secondary Education to investigate and report back in two weeks. The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, also questioned the removal of Computer Studies and Civic Education from the subject list, highlighting the importance of these subjects in today’s digital age .