Education

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

Published

1 month ago

December 9, 2025

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.

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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

Related Topics:Curriculum Overhaul Mass Failure WAEC

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Education

FG to Scrap HND Dichotomy, Empower Polytechnics to Award Degrees

Published

6 hours ago

January 22, 2026

Trends Admin

FG to Scrap HND Dichotomy, Empower Polytechnics to Award Degrees

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to abolish the long-standing HND dichotomy and empower polytechnics to award Bachelor’s degrees, marking a major reform aimed at ending discrimination against Higher National Diploma (HND) holders and strengthening technical and vocational education in the country.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, who said the policy will reposition polytechnics as degree-awarding institutions while preserving their core focus on practical, skills-based training. According to the government, the reform will finally address decades of inequality that placed HND graduates at a disadvantage compared to BSc holders in employment, career progression, and public service appointments.

Under the proposed framework, polytechnics will be upgraded to offer Bachelor’s degrees in relevant fields, particularly technology, engineering, manufacturing, ICT, agriculture, and applied sciences. The government said this move aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises human capital development, industrialisation, and job creation.

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Education authorities explained that the reform will be backed by strict quality assurance standards, accreditation guidelines, and curriculum reviews to ensure that degrees awarded by polytechnics meet national and international benchmarks. Officials also noted that empowering polytechnics will improve funding access, infrastructure development, staff motivation, and student enrolment.

The decision follows years of advocacy by education stakeholders, labour unions, and lawmakers who have repeatedly called for an end to the BSc–HND dichotomy. The House of Representatives had previously passed resolutions and bills seeking to abolish the disparity, while professional bodies and employers argued that competence should outweigh paper qualifications.

Reactions to the announcement have been largely positive, with many Nigerians describing it as a long-overdue reform capable of transforming the country’s skills ecosystem and reducing overdependence on university education. Analysts say the policy could also help Nigeria produce a more employable, industry-ready workforce in a competitive global economy.

However, experts caution that successful implementation will depend on adequate funding, institutional capacity, staff retraining, and effective regulation to prevent dilution of standards. The Federal Government has assured stakeholders that consultations with regulators and institutions are ongoing to ensure a smooth transition.

FG to Scrap HND Dichotomy, Empower Polytechnics to Award Degrees

Education

FG Approves ₦30bn Stabilisation Fund to Boost Federal Universities

Published

3 days ago

January 19, 2026

Trends Admin

FG Approves ₦30bn Stabilisation Fund to Boost Federal Universities

The Federal Government (FG) has approved a ₦30 billion stabilisation fund for federal universities across Nigeria, in a renewed effort to address funding challenges and improve stability in the country’s tertiary education sector.

The fund, which will be released in phases, is part of an agreement reached between the FG and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), aimed at strengthening university operations, improving infrastructure, and enhancing teaching and research capacity. Education officials say the intervention is designed to cushion the impact of rising operational costs and years of underfunding.

According to government sources, the National Universities Commission (NUC) will coordinate the disbursement and monitoring of the fund to ensure accountability and effective utilisation. The initiative is also expected to help reduce industrial disputes that have frequently disrupted academic calendars in federal universities.

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The stabilisation fund comes alongside other federal interventions in the education sector. Recently, the FG released funds to offset salary and promotion arrears owed to university staff, while increased allocations to TETFund have continued to support infrastructure development and staff training in tertiary institutions.

Despite welcoming the intervention, education stakeholders have urged the government to ensure timely release and transparent management of the funds, noting that sustained investment is critical to restoring confidence in Nigeria’s public university system.

The ₦30bn injection is seen as a short-term relief measure, as calls persist for broader reforms and increased budgetary allocation to education in line with UNESCO recommendations.

FG Approves ₦30bn Stabilisation Fund to Boost Federal Universities

Education

NYSC Releases 2026 Batch A Deployment Details as Orientation Camps Set to Open

Published

3 days ago

January 19, 2026

Trends Admin

NYSC Releases 2026 Batch A Deployment Details as Orientation Camps Set to Open

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has officially released the deployment details for 2026 Batch A prospective corps members, providing information on call-up letters, orientation camp locations, and reporting procedures. The announcement comes as thousands of Nigerian graduates prepare to commence their one-year national service.

According to NYSC, prospective corps members posted to Lagos State may be required to attend orientation camps in neighbouring states such as Ekiti, Kwara, Ondo, Ogun, and Osun due to limited camp capacity. Similarly, those posted to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will undergo orientation in Kaduna, Niger, and Nasarawa states.

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The NYSC emphasised that only about 40% of registered prospective corps members can be accommodated in the camps initially and urged all applicants to plan travel early, avoid night journeys, and ensure all necessary documentation — including printed and signed forms — is completed before reporting.

The commission also warned that applicants with record discrepancies, such as mismatched graduation dates or incorrect statements of result, will not be registered until their institutions resolve the issues.

The 2026 Batch A Orientation Course is scheduled to commence on January 21, 2026, with registration running from January 21 to 23, the swearing-in ceremony on January 23, and the closing ceremony on February 10. Special guidelines have been issued for married female corps members, advising those not posted to their husband’s state to report to the nearest camp and upload relevant marriage certificates and proof of spouse’s domicile for concessional posting.