Legislators Raise Alarm Over Changes Threatening Mass Failure
ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Nigerian Senate has escalated its intervention in the nation’s educational policy by summoning the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Head of the National Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Mr. Amos Dangut.
The high-profile summon is in response to the recently announced new guidelines for the 2025/2026 Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE), which legislators argue could disrupt students’ preparations and lead to widespread academic failure.
The Motion and the Warning of Mass Failure
The Senate’s resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West), who brought the issue to the floor during plenary. Senator Karimi expressed grave concern that the new guidelines had significantly altered the subject requirements for senior secondary students preparing for the forthcoming 2025/2026 May/June examinations.
In presenting his motion, the Senator issued a stark warning regarding the timing and nature of the changes.
“These sudden changes to the examination guidelines are highly disruptive. Candidates who have spent years preparing based on established curriculum and requirements will now be compelled to sit for papers for which they were not adequately prepared,” Senator Karimi stated.
He further emphasized that the eleventh-hour alteration of subject requirements could severely compromise the students’ performance, directly increasing the likelihood of a mass failure in the crucial SSCE examinations.
Mandate of the Senate
The Senate’s primary goal in summoning the key education sector leaders is to thoroughly scrutinize the rationale behind the new guidelines and understand the methodology used in their formulation and release.
Both the Minister and the WAEC Head are expected to appear before the relevant Senate Committee to provide:
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A detailed explanation of the specific changes introduced in the 2025/2026 SSCE guidelines.
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The justification for implementing the changes at this critical stage of students’ academic calendars.
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The measures being put in place to mitigate the potential adverse effects on students, particularly those who have already chosen their subject combinations.
The legislative action underscores the Senate’s commitment to ensuring stability and fairness within the national examination system, safeguarding the academic future of millions of Nigerian youths.
