The Senate has summoned the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, and the Head of WAEC’s National Office, Amos Dangut, to explain the sudden introduction of new guidelines for the 2025/2026 Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE). The call followed a motion raised by Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West) during plenary on Tuesday. Karimi expressed concern that the changes had abruptly altered subject requirements for students preparing for the May/June 2025/2026 exams. He said the new guidelines, which added extra subjects to the curriculum, were being imposed on SS3 students who had not been adequately prepared. According to him, the directive effectively requires current SS3 students to follow a curriculum meant for SS1 students, originally scheduled to take effect in 2027/2028. “This means each SS3 student will be required to take two or three additional subjects in the upcoming exams, despite having never been taught the courses and lacking sufficient preparation,” Karimi explained. Lawmakers backed the motion, warning against the hasty implementation. Senator Adams Oshiomhole questioned the readiness of teachers and laboratories, saying, “For a new subject to start, citizens should be well-informed and prepared. There is no evidence of that. We should not plan in a way that will bring embarrassment to the country.” Idiat Adebule (Lagos West) called for a full investigation, noting that such decisions typically involve the National Council on Education. Solomon Adeola (Ogun West) added that students should not be tested on subjects they have not been properly taught. After deliberations, the Senate resolved to summon the Minister of Education for a public hearing with the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education. It also recommended that the Federal Government and WAEC exempt current SS3 students from writing the 2026 exams under the new curriculum, stating that the updated guidelines should only apply to students currently in SS1.
