Senate Queries WAEC’s Sudden Curriculum Overhaul, Predicts Nationwide Mass Failure - Newstrends
Connect with us

Education

Senate Queries WAEC’s Sudden Curriculum Overhaul, Predicts Nationwide Mass Failure

Published

on

Senate Queries WAEC’s Sudden Curriculum Overhaul, Predicts Nationwide Mass Failure

The Nigerian Senate has cautioned the West African Examination Council (WAEC) against its abrupt decision to introduce a new WAEC curriculum for candidates sitting the 2026 senior secondary school certificate examination, warning that the move could trigger widespread mass failure across the country.

WAEC had initially scheduled the rollout of the revised curriculum for the 2027/2028 examination cycle, but unexpectedly shifted implementation to 2026—a development lawmakers on Tuesday described as ill-timed and poorly planned.

Leading the motion, Senator Sunday Karimi said the sudden curriculum overhaul had already resulted in the removal of key subjects such as Computer Studies, Civic Education, and other long-standing examinable courses from the WAEC syllabus. He argued that students who had spent years preparing for these subjects would now be left stranded, with their examinable subjects reduced to only six instead of the mandatory minimum of eight and maximum of nine.

Karimi maintained that neither WAEC nor the Federal Ministry of Education had demonstrated readiness for such a major policy shift, which he said violated Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, mandating government to safeguard citizens’ welfare, and Section 18, which guarantees equal and adequate educational opportunities.

READ ALSO:

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who seconded the motion, condemned what he described as a recurring “culture of anarchism” in Nigeria’s education policy implementation. He criticized the introduction of new subjects without adequate teachers, laboratories, equipment, or timely notification to parents and schools.

“You cannot wake up overnight and say that in June, students will be examined on subjects they have not been taught. Intentions are not enough—proper homework must be done,” Oshiomhole said, urging the Senate to summon the Minister of Education along with relevant agencies to present evidence of preparedness.

Also contributing, Senator Oluranti Adebule said major curriculum reforms must pass through the National Council on Education, which includes all state commissioners. She called for a comprehensive review of the entire curriculum process. Senator Solomon Adeola added that many new subjects—such as cosmetology, fashion design, garment making, livestock farming, GSM repairs, and solar installation—require practical facilities that most schools lack.

After a lengthy debate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio ruled that the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, the Minister of Education, and heads of relevant agencies must meet urgently to address the concerns. He noted that the Senate had already instructed that the current SS3 students be exempted from the new curriculum.

“These are very weighty issues. We cannot risk mass failure in the 2026 WAEC examinations,” Akpabio said, directing the committees to report back within two weeks.

The Senate insisted that the matter must be fully resolved before the end of the year to protect the academic future of millions of Nigerian students.

Senate Queries WAEC’s Sudden Curriculum Overhaul, Predicts Nationwide Mass Failure

Education

NABTEB Releases 2025 Nov/Dec NBC, NTC Results Nationwide

Published

on

National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB)

NABTEB Releases 2025 Nov/Dec NBC, NTC Results Nationwide

The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) has officially released the 2025 November/December NBC and NTC examination results, giving thousands of candidates nationwide access to their performance in the just-concluded exams.

Announcing the release at the board’s headquarters in Benin City, NABTEB Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Aminu Mohammed, said the results were made public 64 days after the last paper, underscoring the board’s commitment to efficiency and transparency.

According to NABTEB, a total of 61,591 candidates sat for the NBC, NTC, ANBC, and ANTC examinations across the country. Of this number, over 34,000 candidates recorded five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics, a key benchmark for employment, technical training, and further education.

READ ALSO:

The board also reported a notable decline in examination malpractice, attributing the improvement to tighter supervision, enhanced monitoring, and increased use of technology during the examination process.

Dr. Mohammed said the outcome reflects NABTEB’s growing role in strengthening technical and vocational education in Nigeria, adding that the board remains focused on producing skilled manpower capable of driving national development.

Candidates have been advised to check their results on the official NABTEB results portal, while institutions and employers were urged to continue recognising NBC and NTC certificates as credible qualifications for skills-based careers.

The release of the results has been welcomed by stakeholders, who say the improved performance and reduced malpractice signal renewed confidence in the NABTEB examination system.

NABTEB Releases 2025 Nov/Dec NBC, NTC Results Nationwide

Continue Reading

Education

JAMB Insists 2026 UTME Registration Closes Feb 26, Rules Out Deadline Extension

Published

on

JAMB CBT Centre

JAMB Insists 2026 UTME Registration Closes Feb 26, Rules Out Deadline Extension

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reaffirmed that the registration deadline for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will not be extended beyond February 26, 2026, urging prospective candidates to complete their registration without delay.

The examination body issued the reminder in its Weekly Bulletin released on Monday, warning that candidates who deliberately postpone registration until the final days should not expect any form of extension.

According to JAMB, there has been a noticeable low turnout at many accredited registration centres weeks into the registration exercise, a trend the Board said often precedes pressure campaigns for deadline extensions.

“The Board has observed with concern the near absence of candidates at many accredited registration centres at this stage of the exercise. This recurring pattern where candidates deliberately delay registration until the final days and subsequently agitate for an extension will not be entertained in 2026,” JAMB stated.

READ ALSO:

The Board explained that the tactic is frequently used to trigger mass movement of candidates to registration centres, a situation that increases the risk of examination malpractice and compromises the integrity of the process.

JAMB stressed that it is fully aware of such practices and has factored them into its planning, stating unequivocally that no extension will be granted under any circumstance.

“There will be no extension of the registration period. This notice is issued to ensure that genuine, law-abiding candidates are not misled or disadvantaged,” the Board said.

The examination body reminded candidates that 2026 UTME registration commenced on January 26, 2026, and was deliberately scheduled to run for five weeks, adding that the timeline remains unchanged.

JAMB disclosed that about one million candidates have already indicated interest in the examination, while many others have obtained their e-PINs and are expected to complete the registration process before the deadline.

The Board further explained that extending the registration window would be practically impossible, as its operational calendar is tightly coordinated with those of other national examination bodies. Any adjustment, it said, would disrupt the broader examination schedule and interfere with timelines reserved for other critical assessments.

JAMB therefore urged all prospective candidates to register early at accredited centres and avoid last-minute rushes that could result in missing the opportunity to sit for the 2026 UTME.

JAMB Insists 2026 UTME Registration Closes Feb 26, Rules Out Deadline Extension

Continue Reading

Education

Exam Policy Tragedy: KWASU Final-Year Student Dies After Being Turned Back Over ID Card

Published

on

Exam Policy Tragedy: KWASU Final-Year Student Dies After Being Turned Back Over ID Card

A tragic accident involving a final-year student of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, has sparked fresh concerns over strict examination entry rules in Nigerian tertiary institutions after the student reportedly lost his life while rushing to retrieve his identity card.

The deceased, identified as Idris Aremu Agboluaje, a 400-level Business Education undergraduate, was said to have been denied entry into an examination hall for allegedly failing to present his student identity card, a mandatory requirement during tests.

Witnesses said Agboluaje hurriedly left the venue to pick up the card in a bid to meet up with his first-semester examination but was involved in a fatal road accident on his way back to campus.

The incident has stirred emotional reactions among students and professional bodies within the institution. In a condolence message, the Association of Business Educators of Nigeria (ABEN), KWASU chapter, described the development as “a painful and shocking loss” to the department and urged the university community to support the bereaved family.

As of the time of filing this report, the university management had yet to release an official statement confirming the circumstances surrounding the accident or addressing concerns raised by students. Efforts to obtain reactions from school authorities were unsuccessful.

Background

Most Nigerian universities enforce strict identification policies during examinations as part of efforts to curb impersonation and uphold academic integrity. However, student leaders across campuses have occasionally called for more flexible verification options, especially for final-year students facing high academic pressure.

The latest incident may renew debate over balancing institutional regulations with student welfare and safety, with some students already calling on the management to review procedures to prevent similar tragedies.

Observers expect the university to issue a formal response after internal verification, which could include condolences to the family and clarification of examination protocols.

Continue Reading
HostArmada Affordable Cloud SSD Shared Hosting
HostArmada - Affordable Cloud SSD Web Hosting

Trending