Education Alert: Reps Demand Reversal of WAEC Subject Removals

​The Nigerian House of Representatives has thrown its weight behind a growing public outcry, urging the Federal Government to immediately reverse the removal of key subjects from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) portal. The directive follows a motion of urgent public importance that highlighted the severe negative impact of the decision on students, especially those pursuing business-related careers, stressing the necessity of a stable and predictable educational curriculum.

​The Controversy: Subjects at the Core of Commerce

​The core of the controversy centers on the removal of crucial business and commercial subjects, namely Commerce and Financial Accounting, from the list of approved elective subjects available for senior secondary school students writing the WAEC examination. Lawmakers expressed alarm that this sudden move was made without adequate consultation with stakeholders—including educational experts, parents, and the students themselves—and risks undermining the foundational knowledge required for a successful career in the Nigerian business sector.

​The subjects removed are considered fundamental preparatory tools for students aiming to pursue degrees and careers in fields such as:

​Accounting and Finance

​Business Administration

​Economics

​Entrepreneurship

​The House argued that denying students access to these subjects at the secondary level creates a crippling academic deficit, forcing them into remedial studies at the university level or, worse, prematurely discouraging them from pursuing fields vital to national economic development.

​The Argument for Reversal

​The resolution passed by the House emphasized the following key points for reversing the Federal Ministry of Education’s decision:

​Economic Relevance: Nigeria, as the largest economy in Africa, requires a robust talent pipeline in business and commerce. Subjects like Commerce and Accounting are the bedrock of business literacy, providing students with the foundational skills necessary to become future entrepreneurs, tax experts, and financial analysts. Removing them contradicts the national push for economic diversification and youth empowerment.

​Stakeholder Consultation Failure: The unilateral nature of the decision violates democratic principles and ignores the expertise of educational bodies. The House mandated the Ministry of Education to engage in transparent discussions before making such sweeping curricular changes.

​Widespread Disruption: The timing of the removal has caused massive confusion among students and schools planning their final WAEC registration, leading to disruption of lesson plans and academic distress for thousands of affected candidates across the country.

​The House Mandate and Way Forward

​Following the debate, the House resolved to:

​Mandate the Federal Ministry of Education to immediately restore Commerce and Financial Accounting to the list of subjects available on the WAEC portal.

​Direct the relevant House Committees (Education, Basic and Secondary Education) to summon the Minister of Education and the Head of WAEC's National Office for a comprehensive explanation of the policy change and the steps being taken to correct the error.

​Urge WAEC to extend its registration deadline to accommodate the delays and confusion caused by the subject removals, ensuring no student is unfairly penalized.

​The legislative action underscores the seriousness with which the National Assembly views curriculum stability and the imperative of tailoring educational policy to the socio-economic realities and aspirations of Nigeria's youth. The focus now shifts to the Ministry of Education and WAEC to comply with the legislative directive and prevent further damage to the academic pursuits of final-year secondary school students.