In a significant move to end nationwide confusion, the Federal Government has officially clarified that all senior secondary school students in Nigeria have the freedom to select any approved subject for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), regardless of their academic stream.
Ministry Addresses Curriculum Misinformation
The clarification was issued in a press statement on Saturday, 6 December 2025, by Boriowo Folashade, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education. The statement aimed to counter widespread misinformation circulating on social media and within school communities.
According to the ministry, claims that students must strictly adhere to subjects within their designated arts, commercial, or science tracks are false. "There is no restriction or exclusion attached to the selection of any approved subject under the Senior Secondary School Curriculum," the statement affirmed.
Officials explained that the revised curriculum was intentionally designed to be flexible and student-centred. This approach supports diverse academic and career interests. For instance, a science student can now register for subjects in the arts or social sciences, while arts and commercial students may opt for science subjects.
However, such cross-disciplinary choices must be made under the guidance of school authorities, parents, or certified counsellors.
Key Changes: ICT Renamed, Trade Subjects Clarified
In another important update, the ministry confirmed that the subject formerly known as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been officially renamed to Digital Technology. The change is described as purely a shift in nomenclature, with no alteration to the core curriculum content. Students who previously studied ICT will not be disadvantaged.
Regarding Trade Subjects, the government noted that six specific trades have been approved under the curriculum. Students may register for these only if their school offers the subject and they have received instruction in it.
Crucially, the ministry stated that students with no prior exposure to any of the six trade subjects are not obligated to register one as a third subject.
Implications for WAEC Registration and University Admissions
This clarification comes at a critical time, as registration for the 2026 WASSCE cycle is ongoing nationwide. The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has recently urged schools to ensure accurate subject entries before the January deadline. The council warned that errors in subject combinations have increasingly led to withheld or invalid results in past years.
The policy has direct implications for university admissions. Nigerian universities often require specific subject combinations for competitive courses like medicine, engineering, law, and mass communication. The new flexibility allows students to strategically select subjects that meet these prerequisites, even if they fall outside their primary school stream.
This announcement is part of broader reforms in Nigeria's education sector. Earlier this year, the ministry initiated teacher retraining and digital learning programs aimed at improving performance in core WAEC subjects like Mathematics and English, following inconsistent pass rates.
The Federal Ministry of Education has urged the public to rely solely on verified information from official channels, noting that misinformation remains a major challenge during examination periods. The ministry promised further updates as reforms in the senior secondary school system continue.
