WAEC confirms 33 senior high schools will pilot a new curriculum in the 2026 WASSCE, featuring critical thinking and problem-solving questions.
33 SHSs to Pilot New WASSCE Curriculum
The (WAEC) has announced that candidates from 33 selected senior high schools (SHSs) in Ghana will sit the 2026 May–June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) under a newly introduced second cycle curriculum.
The revised assessment model will focus on what WAEC describes as “21st Century Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Questions,” marking a shift from traditional examination formats toward more practical and applied learning.
Reform Aimed at Career-Oriented Learning
Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, , explained that the new curriculum is career-driven and designed to align student learning with specific professional pathways.
He noted that students under the new system are guided toward disciplines such as medical sciences and engineering, with subject choices reflecting future career interests.
New subject areas, including Spanish and Engineering Science, have also been introduced to broaden academic and professional opportunities.
Gradual Nationwide Rollout Expected
The 33 selected schools are piloting the programme, with plans to extend it to all 1,020 SHSs nationwide.
WAEC indicated that the remaining 987 schools will be integrated progressively, with full nationwide implementation expected by 2027.
Officials clarified that the candidates involved are not a special category of students but are simply those studying under the new curriculum, and they will write separate examination papers under dedicated supervision.
Ghana Returns to International WASSCE Format
A total of 473,658 Ghanaian candidates will sit for the 2026 WASSCE alongside their counterparts in other member countries, including , , , and .
This marks Ghana’s return to the international examination system after five years of administering a Ghana-only version due to disruptions caused by the pandemic.
The 2026 candidature comprises 248,461 males and 225,197 females from both public and private schools, representing a 2.58 percent increase from the 2025 figure.
STEM Schools Lead Pilot Implementation
Sources indicate that many of the selected schools are institutions offering Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes.
Notable among them are and .
The pilot is expected to provide valuable insights into how the new curriculum can improve student outcomes and better prepare graduates for higher education and the job market.
Shift Toward Practical Assessment
The 2026 WASSCE will begin with practicals and project work, reflecting the new emphasis on applied knowledge and real-world problem-solving.
Education analysts believe the reform represents a significant step toward modernizing Ghana’s assessment system and aligning it with global educational standards.
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