NECO grants full accreditation to schools in Burkina Faso to conduct SSCE, BECE exams

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has expanded its international operations with the accreditation of schools in Burkina Faso to conduct its flagship examinations, the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

In a statement released in Abuja on Sunday, the council’s Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Mr. Azeez Sani, confirmed that NECO granted full approval after a comprehensive assessment of selected institutions in the West African nation.

According to Sani, a NECO accreditation team evaluated the schools’ infrastructure and readiness by inspecting classrooms, laboratories, libraries, computer labs, workshops, examination halls, sports facilities and overall security architecture. The team also reviewed Continuous Assessment (CA) records, staffing levels, and the general learning environment before issuing approval.

“Following a thorough and detailed evaluation, the schools were granted full accreditation to host the SSCE and BECE,” Sani said.

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He added that NECO’s expansion into Burkina Faso reflects its growing commitment to providing quality education assessment services across Africa. With this development, the council strengthens its goal of becoming a leading continental examination body serving both Nigerian and foreign students.

Sani further recalled that NECO recently established an examination centre in London, United Kingdom, adding to existing centres in Togo, Benin Republic, Niger Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Saudi Arabia.

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Amb. M.D. Galadima, applauded the development, describing it as a major relief for Nigerian families in the country. He noted that parents previously had to take their children to Saki, Oyo State, to register and sit for NECO exams — a process that posed security risks and imposed heavy financial burdens.

“With this accreditation, those risks are eliminated, and families can now save significant costs,” Galadima said, urging Nigerians in Burkina Faso to seize the opportunity by enrolling their children for NECO examinations.

Leader of the accreditation team, Dr. Uche Ezenwanne, said the approval now allows Nigerian students residing in Burkina Faso to write the SSCE and BECE without travelling back home.

NECO grants full accreditation to schools in Burkina Faso to conduct SSCE, BECE exams

Study Permit Reform: Canada Exempts Postgraduate Students From PAL/TAL in 2026

The Government of Canada has unveiled major reforms to its study permit system, announcing a more streamlined process for international postgraduate students beginning January 2026. Under the new policy, master’s and doctoral candidates enrolled in public Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) will no longer be required to submit Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letters (PAL/TAL).

The policy shift forms part of a broader federal plan to simplify pathways for highly skilled students while maintaining firm control over overall international student intake.

The PAL/TAL system, introduced to help provinces regulate student numbers, has improved oversight but also increased processing times and administrative workload. The 2026 exemption is expected to significantly speed up permit approvals for postgraduate applicants and reduce paperwork.

Despite easing requirements for advanced degree programs, Canada will continue enforcing a national cap on international students. Under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, Ottawa intends to issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026—comprising 155,000 new permits and 253,000 extensions. This marks a 7% drop from 2025 and 16% below 2024 levels. However, the government says it remains committed to attracting top-tier researchers and graduate talent.

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Under the revised rules, PAL/TAL exemptions will apply to:

• Master’s and PhD students at public DLIs
• K–12 learners
• Certain federal priority and vulnerable groups
• Current study permit holders applying for extensions at the same level and institution

Of the 309,670 study permit spaces allocated under the 2026 cap, an estimated 180,000 applicants will still require PAL/TALs, allowing provinces to retain oversight on enrolment levels.

Master’s and PhD candidates will also be removed from the national study permit cap, ensuring they are not subject to annual limits. Additionally, PhD applicants will benefit from expedited 14-day processing, part of Canada’s strategy to remain globally competitive in research recruitment.

Federal targets for new international student entries remain:

• 2026: 155,000 (range: 150,000–160,000)
• 2027: 150,000 (range: 145,000–155,000)
• 2028: 150,000 (range: 145,000–155,000)

These targets apply to students entering academic programs longer than six months at approved DLIs.

The reforms highlight Canada’s dual-track approach: maintaining tighter control over total enrolment while incentivising high-level research, innovation, and postgraduate education. By removing administrative barriers and offering faster processing for top applicants, Canada aims to strengthen its position as a leading destination for skilled and ambitious international students.

Study Permit Reform: Canada Exempts Postgraduate Students From PAL/TAL in 2026

2026 WASSCE: WAEC unveils new compulsory subjects, begins CBT transition for schools

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released fresh guidelines on compulsory subjects for the 2026 WASSCE and subsequent editions, clarifying subject combinations and registration requirements for candidates. The examination body also reaffirmed that science students can register for Economics, ending longstanding misconceptions.

Speaking at a press briefing after the 63rd Annual Meeting of the Nigeria National Committee (NNC) of WAEC in Umuahia, Abia State, the Head of National Office, Dr. Amos Dangut, said the updated structure aligns with the Federal Government’s revised subject policy for senior secondary schools.

Dangut emphasized that candidates “will not be restricted from choosing subjects across groups,” noting that Economics remains open to science students as an elective.

He appealed to schools and counsellors to properly guide students on subject combinations as the “reviewed and streamlined subjects” take effect for the 2026 WASSCE.

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New WAEC Subject Categories

WAEC has now grouped all examinable subjects into five fields:

• Core Subjects
• Science Subjects
• Humanities Subjects
• Business Subjects
• Trade Subjects

The new list of five core compulsory subjects includes:

• English Language
• General Mathematics
• Citizenship and Heritage Studies Education
• Digital Technologies
• Vocational Trade Subjects

However, Citizenship and Heritage Studies Education and Digital Technologies will not be examined in 2026 and 2027, as their curricula and syllabi are still under development. These two subjects will become examinable starting 2028.

Subjects Required for 2026 and 2027 WASSCE

Candidates sitting for the 2026 and 2027 WASSCE will write only:

• English Language
• General Mathematics
• One Trade Subject

They must then choose five or six additional subjects from other fields, making a total of eight or nine subjects for registration.

Dangut noted that trade subjects have been reduced from 26 to six, though some retain new names with unchanged syllabus content.

He clarified that WAEC is not responsible for curriculum development, stressing that the council only assesses students based on government-approved curricula.

Migration to CBT and School Categorisation

To prepare for the transition to full Computer-Based Testing (CBT), schools have been categorized into three groups:

• Those not yet ready for CBT
• Those using a hybrid of CBT and paper-based exams
• Those fully prepared for CBT rollout, even by 2026

He assured that no candidate will be denied access to the 2026 WASSCE, regardless of their school’s technology level.

WAEC also pledged that candidates will not be assigned exam centres more than two kilometres from their residences.

Continuous Assessment Requirement

Schools must administer at least three Continuous Assessment Tests per candidate to meet the CASS requirement. WAEC has extended the CASS uploading deadline to ensure a smooth and credible exam process.

Dangut reaffirmed the council’s readiness, saying the reforms will strengthen the integrity and quality of the WASSCE 2026 and beyond.

2026 WASSCE: WAEC unveils new compulsory subjects, begins CBT transition for schools