Stakeholders agree on dual curricula for 2026 WASSCE

By Ophaniel Gooding (232news)

‎The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), in partnership with the Sierra Leone Teachers’ Union (SLTU), National Union of Private Schools (NUPS), West African Examinations Council (WAEC), and the Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (CPSS), has revealed that the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates will assess subjects from both the old and new senior secondary school curricula.

‎The announcement follows a stakeholder meeting chaired by the Chief Education Officer on 25 September 2025, which laid the foundation for the transition.

‎“The 2026 WASSCE will be historic, as it marks the first year that subjects from the new senior secondary curriculum, aligned with the Free Quality School Education programme, will be examined. We are committed to a smooth transition and ensuring that every candidate is treated fairly,” said the Chief Education Officer.

‎According to the release, under the dual-curriculum approach, 20 subjects will be examined from the new curriculum, while 17 subjects will continue under the old curriculum.

‎“English Language and Mathematics remain compulsory for all candidates. Both curricula will run concurrently from 2026 to 2027 to facilitate a seamless transition,” the release assured.

‎The Ministry has outlined strict measures to ensure transparency and accuracy, including the enforcement of firm deadlines.

‎“We discovered 124,000 duplicate entries during the initial verification process. To prevent this in future, we are implementing a name-based registration system and enforcing strict deadlines for verified candidate lists from schools,” the Chief Education Officer revealed.

‎The release further stated that private candidates will also benefit from improved registration procedures.

‎“Challenges faced by private schools in registering candidates have been addressed, we will hold a special meeting with private school heads to strengthen coordination,” the CEO added.

‎To enhance capacity, MBSSE has assured that it will train school heads and teachers on Continuous Assessment Score Sheets (CASS) and digital processes.

‎The Ministry stressed zero tolerance for malpractice, warning that principals or school authorities violating procedures will face disciplinary sanctions.

‎According to the release, the WAEC 2026 examination calendar has been published, with CASS assessments scheduled from October 2025 to June 2026, and no extensions permitted.

‎At the end of the meeting, all partner institutions reaffirmed their commitment to improving the quality, credibility, and fairness of public examinations.

‎“No subject, including English Language, has been removed from the new curriculum, our goal is to maintain high standards and sustain the achievements of the Free Quality School Education initiative,” the Ministry said in a joint statement.