Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The management of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has remained resolute on going ahead with the conduct of Computer-Based May/June 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), despite warning by the House of Representatives two weeks ago directing the body to shift the conduct of the CB-WASSCE to 2030.
The council yesterday also outlined new guidelines to schools on subjects selection by their candidates.
WAEC Head of National Office (HNO), Dr Amos Dangut, announced that the council had concluded arrangements to conduct the CB-WASSCE next year and the implementation of the review of the basic and secondary education curriculum.
Dangut told newsmen in Umuahia, Abia State, that the council had not received any communication from the Lower Chambers to stop the implementation of the Federal Government directive on conduct of CB-WASSCE.
According to him “I am only hearing about the House directive from journalists. WAEC has not received any communication. We are a formal body and law-abiding. Any communication that comes to the Council, I will consult.”
According to him, WAEC had conducted five CB-WASSCE examinations and the analysis of the results showed that the performance of candidates had improved while examination malpractice had reduced below the international standard.
“WAEC is aware that the directive from the Federal Ministry of Education regarding the full migration to Computer-Based examinations for the WASSCE 2026 has raised concerns among stakeholders.
“This has prompted further consultations with the Federal Government on modalities for the effective conduct of the examination in order not to disenfranchise any candidate for the examination.”
He maintained that the Council carried out an assessment of schools and that the outcome led to the development of a framework classifying schools into three main categories.
Dangut said based on the framework, the council conducted a mapping of the schools and modalities for the conduct of CB-WASSCE in line with the mapping of the schools, thereby ensuring that the conduct of the computer-based WASSCE would not put any candidate in a disadvantageous position.
The HNO listed the categories of subjects to be offered by candidates for the WASSCE 2026 in adherence with the Federal Government’s directive.
“The subjects are in five distinct fields which are core, science, humanities, business and trade subjects.
The government-approved core (compulsory) subjects are: English Language, General Mathematics, Citizenship and Heritage Studies, Digital Technologies, and one trade subject