House Orders Education Ministry to Halt Last-Minute Curriculum Changes

James Adamu

The House of Representatives has directed the Federal Ministry of Education to immediately rescind its recent curriculum review policy, calling its timing “academically impossible” for students.

The resolution, passed on Tuesday, follows widespread distress among thousands of Secondary School 3 (SS3) students who are just four months away from the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The ministry’s directive had led to the removal of several foundational subjects—including Computer Studies, Data Processing, Civic Education, and technical trades like Electrical Installation—from the WAEC examination portal.

Raising the motion, Hon. Oboku Oforji argued that the sudden change violates the basic requirement for students to sit for a minimum of eight subjects.

With three or more popular subjects removed, many students would be left with only five, forcing them to scramble for new, unstudied subjects with insufficient preparation time.

“While we acknowledge efforts to enhance the national curriculum, the timing is just not right,” Oforji stated. He emphasized the particular contradiction in removing Computer Studies “at a time when the world is going digital,” noting that most examination bodies, including WAEC, are now adopting Computer-Based Test models.

The lawmaker also questioned the logic behind dropping Civic Education, a previously compulsory subject that teaches national values and duties, especially when agencies like the National Orientation Agency are tasked with promoting civic responsibility.

The House unanimously urged the ministry to suspend the policy implementation to give students “a fair chance of success.” The resolution places the ministry under intense scrutiny, with lawmakers demanding flexibility and proper planning before any such educational overhaul is enforced.

If not reversed, the policy threatened to disrupt the academic prospects of an entire cohort of Nigerian students, who have been studying the affected subjects since SS1.