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WAEC History Syllabus 2026/2027 & Textbooks

By November 8, 2025 Uncategorized 0 Comments

The WAEC History Syllabus 2026/2027 & Textbooks exam includes topics on West Africa and the wider world from earliest times to the year 2000, broken into three essay sections: Before 1800, the 19th Century, and 1900–2000.

Aims and Objectives

  • Candidates must have knowledge of their national histories from earliest times to 2000 with emphasis on the relationship between the peoples and states
  • Candidates must have intellectual capacity and skills in historical interpretation and analysis
  • Candidates must have the ability to use acquired skills in relating the past to the present
  • Candidates must develop an appreciation towards factors that make for national unity and global understanding
  • Candidates must be exposed and appreciation of the similarities and differences in the National, social and political institutions
  • Candidates must have the knowledge of the main historical developments in West Africa from the earliest times to 2000
  • Candidates must have ability to relate events in their country and West Africa to those of the outside world
  • Candidates must have the ability to present clear, relevant, and logical arguments.

Examination Guidelines

The examination consists of two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2, which must be completed in one sitting.

Paper 1 is a multiple-choice test consisting of 50 questions, with a total of 40 marks. Candidates will have 1 hour to answer all questions.

Paper 2 is an essay-type test with a duration of 2 hours. It includes sets of questions on the histories of the member countries, with each set divided into three sections: A, B, and C. For Nigeria, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Liberia, the sections cover the following historical periods:

  • Section A: From the earliest times to 1800
  • Section B: 19th Century
  • Section C: 1900 – 2000

For Ghana, the sections are:

  • Section A: Landmarks of African history, from the earliest times to AD 1800
  • Section B: Ghana and the wider world, from the earliest times to AD 1900
  • Section C: Ghana, AD 1900-1991

Each section will contain three questions, and candidates are required to answer four questions, choosing at least one from each section. This paper is worth 60 marks. Candidates will focus on the history of their home countries when answering the questions.

WAEC History Syllabus 2026/2027

Main Theme / TopicSubtopics / Key ContentApplicable Countries / Sections
Historiography and Historical Skills– What is History and why do we study it? – Sources of History (oral, written, archaeological, linguistic, etc.) – Historical skills (ancient and modern approaches) – Prospects of ICT in Historical StudiesNigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone (All Section A)
Trans-Saharan Trade– Origin, organization, and effects on the development of West African statesNigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone
Islam in West Africa– Introduction, spread, and effects of IslamNigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone
European Contact with West Africa– Reasons for European arrival – Immediate effects and West African reactionsNigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade– Origin, organization, effects, and suppressionNigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone
Christian Missionary Activities in West Africa– Role in the suppression of the slave trade – Missionary impact on education, health, language, and religionNigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone
The Scramble for and Partition of West Africa– Causes and process – Industrial Revolution and scramble for colonies – Colonial subjugation, occupation, and African reactionNigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone
Colonial Rule in West Africa– Patterns of colonial rule (direct/indirect) – Consolidation of European culture – Colonial economy and underdevelopment – Africa and the two World WarsNigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone
Problems of Independent West African States– Neo-colonialism and economic underdevelopment – Unequal development, instability, military rule – Boundary disputes and threat to unityNigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone
West Africa and International Organizations– United Nations (UN) – Organization of African Unity (OAU)/African Union (AU) – Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) – Commonwealth of Nations – Mano River Union (MRU) (Liberia & Sierra Leone)All countries
Country-Specific TopicsThe Gambia: Earliest times to 2000 (ethnic groups, industries, Islam, colonialism, independence, coups, Senegambia relations) Ghana: From African landmarks to AD 1991 (ancient civilizations, trans-Saharan trade, European contact, nationalism, independence, and post-independence governance) Liberia: From earliest times to 2000 (migrations, colonization, Americo-Liberians, independence, coups, civil war, and ECOWAS intervention) Nigeria: From earliest times to 2000 (ancient civilizations, trans-Saharan trade, Sokoto Caliphate, colonial rule, independence, military rule, Fourth Republic) Sierra Leone: From earliest times to 2000 (ethnic groups, Mane invasions, slave trade, colonialism, independence, civil war, and post-war reconstruction)Each respective country and section (A, B, C)

WAEC History Textbooks 2026/2027

  • Buah, F. K. A History of West Africa from AD 1000, London: Macmillan Publishers Ltd, 1986.
  • Crowder, M. West Africa: An Introduction of its History, London: Longman Group Ltd, 1977.
  • Eluwa, G. I. C. et al. A History of Nigeria for Schools and Colleges, Onitsha: Africana-First Publishers Ltd, 1988
  • Okafor, L. M. History for Senior Secondary Schools, Books 1 & 2 Nigeria, Onitsha: Jet Publishers (Nig.) Ltd, 1989
  • Okafor, L. M. et al. History for Senior Secondary Schools Book 3, Africa and the Wider World Since 1800, Onitsha: Jet Publishers (Nig.) Ltd, 1990
  • Onwubiko, K. B. C. School Certificate History of West Africa AD 1000- 1800 Book One, Onitsha: Africana-FEP Publishers Ltd, 1982
  • Webster, J. B. and A. A. Boahen with M. Tidy. The Revolutionary Years: West Africa Since 1800 New Edition, London: Longman Group Ltd, 1980.

HomeBlogWAEC Health Education Syllabus 2026/2027 & Textbooks

WAEC Health Education Syllabus 2026/2027 & Textbooks

 By WAEC2026  November 7, 2025  Blog, WAEC Syllabus 2026, WAEC Textbooks  0 Comments

The WAEC Health Education Syllabus 2026/2027 & Textbooks: cover the human body, health, and the environment. Key topics include the structure and function of body systems, disease prevention, nutrition, first aid, drug education, and family life education. It also encompasses community and school health services, as well as environmental health topics such as water supply, waste disposal, and pollution.

Contents [hide]

Aims and Objectives

  • Candidates must acquire basic knowledge of the human body and necessary skills for the maintenance of health
  • Candidates must acquire positive health practices in the school and community
  • Candidates must identify and show the ecological relationship between man and his environment as a basis for preventing diseases
  • Candidates must make observations and draw inferences from practical experiences that may have implications for health
  • Candidates develop the readiness necessary for professional training in health-related careers

Examination Guides

There will be three papers – Papers 1, 2, and 3, all of which must be taken. Papers 1 and 2 will be a composite paper to be taken in one sitting.

PAPER 1

It will consist of fifty multiple-choice objective questions, all of which must be taken in 1hour for 50 marks.

PAPER 2 –

It will consist of two sections, Sections A and B.

Section A will consist of six short-structured questions, all of which must be answered for 30 marks.

Section B will consist of three essay questions, out of which candidates will be required to answer two questions for 40 marks. The paper will last 1 hour.

PAPER 3 –

Paper 3 will be a practical test for school candidates and an alternative test of practical work for private candidates. The paper will last for 1¾ hours and carry 80 marks.

Materials needed in the Health Education Laboratory/Examination

  • Models of various organs of the body;
  • Models of various parts of the body e.g. tooth;
  • Human skeleton;
  • Bones of the body;
  • Contraceptive devices;
  • Reagents for testing of starch, protein, fat;
  • Road safety signs;
  • Different types of safety elements;
  • Posters/charts of systems of the body e.g., reproductive, digestive, excretory;
  • First aid box and kits;
  • Fire extinguisher;
  • Sand bucket;
  • Photographs of health facilities and workers e.g., doctors , nurses, dentists at work;
  • Photographs of methods of sewage and refuse disposals;
  • Microscope
  • Stethoscope
  • Preserved worms;
  • Preserved pests and vectors
  • Photographs/posters of various types of communicable and non-communicable diseases;
  • Model/poster showing parts of the body;
  • Materials for personal hygiene e.g., toothpaste, comb, toothbrush;
  • Dissecting set
  • Photographs/posters of accident scenes;
  • Photographs/posters showing methods of food preservation
  • Photographs/posters showing disaster scenes;
  • Safety;
  • Photographs/posters of drugs commonly misused/abused
  • Tobacco products;
  • Hand lens;
  • Real objects/photographs/posters/charts of classes of food;
  • Photographs/posters showing correct postures
  • Photographs/posters showing postural abnormalities;
  • Poster/real object of sphygmomanometer, thermometer, litmus paper Snellen chart.

WAEC Health Education Syllabus 2026/2027

Main Topic / UnitSubtopics / Content Details
Meaning and Setting for Health EducationMeaning: Definition and scope of Health Education.Settings: Home-based, School-based, Community-based, Health facility-based, Workplace-based.Health Promotion: Meaning and importance.Notes: Students should visit and observe community, health facility and workplace-based health education programmes and services.
Human Anatomy and PhysiologyCells and Tissues: Types (somatic, sex), cell division (mitosis, meiosis), cell differentiation, tissue formation.Organs & Systems: Growth and development.Sense Organs: Structure and functions of eye, ear, skin, nose, tongue.Systems of the Body:– Skeletal and Muscular Systems: Axial/appendicular skeleton, functions, joints, muscle types, movement.- Circulatory System: Heart, vessels, blood/lymph composition, circulation, blood clotting, blood groups, disorders (sickle cell, leukaemia, hypertension, etc.).- Digestive System: Organs, processes, digestion, absorption, metabolism, diseases and prevention.- Excretory System: Kidney and skin structure/functions, urine formation, dialysis.- Respiratory System: Structure, functions, respiration, gaseous exchange, breathing mechanism, disorders.- Nervous System: Brain, spinal cord, nerves, reflex arc, voluntary/involuntary actions, disorders.- Endocrine System: Location and functions of glands, hormones, homeostasis, feedback mechanisms.- Posture: Correct posture, postural defects (flat foot, scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis), causes, prevention, correction.
Personal HealthMeaning and importance of physical health.Personal Hygiene: Promotion and maintenance, factors affecting health.Health Screening: Eye defects (myopia, hypermetropia, astigmatism, presbyopia, squint), ear defects (conductive, neurosensory), skin disorders.Care: Eye, ear, skin, teeth, mouth, hands, hair and nails.Dental Health: Types of teeth, dental caries, gingivitis, prevention.
Community HealthCommunity Health Services: Definition, providers (orthodox & traditional), community efforts.School Health Programme: Definition, components (skill-based education, environment, feeding, nutrition, linkages: HPS, CFS, FRESH, LS, EFA).Family Health: Maternal and child health, family size, budgeting, ageing and death education, grief, causes of death.Epidemiology & Vital Statistics: Definitions, components (birth, mortality, morbidity rates), uses.
Environmental HealthHousing: Criteria (siting, ventilation, lighting, sanitation).Water Supply: Sources, purification, uses.Waste Disposal: Meaning, types (refuse, sewage), methods.Pollution: Meaning, types (air, water, soil, noise), sources, health effects.Industrial Health: Meaning, programmes, occupational hazards.Pests and Vectors: Meaning, habitats, harmful effects, control.
Nutrition and Food NutrientsNutrition: Classes, sources, functions, caloric values.Balanced Diet: Meaning, classification, nutritional problems, feeding habits.Water: Importance.Nutritional Processes: Ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation, metabolism, defecation.Beverages: Meaning, types, effects.Diet for Groups: Children, adolescents, athletes, pregnant women, adults, aged.Food Hygiene & Preservation: Principles, effects of cooking on nutrients, preservation methods (smoking, drying, freezing, canning, etc.).
Safety Education and First AidFirst Aid: Meaning, aims, principles, contents of first aid kit.Emergency Conditions: Cuts, wounds, bleeding, fractures, burns, shock, asphyxia, poisoning.Agencies: Providers of first aid services.Disaster: Meaning, types, relief activities.Accident: Causes, prevention.Disability and Rehabilitation: Meaning, types, prevention.
Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco EducationDrug Education: Key terms (abuse, misuse, addiction, dependence, self-medication, rehabilitation).Drug Abuse: Classes of abused drugs, routes of intake (oral, injection, inhalation, topical, anal), effects, prevention.Behaviour-Altering Substances: Tobacco (components, effects), alcohol (effects), drugs (effects).Control Measures: Reasons and prevention of abuse, smoking, and drinking.
Communicable and Non-Communicable DiseasesDiseases: Meaning and classification.Communicable: Definition, types and examples:- Airborne: Common cold, measles, whooping cough, TB, meningitis.- Water/Food-borne: Dysentery, cholera, typhoid, schistosomiasis.- Insect-borne: Malaria, yellow fever, trypanosomiasis, filariasis.- Worms: Ascaris, Taenia, Hookworm, Guinea worm.- Animal-borne: Rabies, leptospirosis.- Contact: Gonorrhoea, syphilis, ringworm, leprosy, AIDS.Factors: Agent, host, transmission route.Non-Communicable: Deficiency diseases (scurvy, rickets, etc.); hereditary/growth-related diseases (cancer, diabetes, hypertension, mental illness, etc.).
Family Life and Human Sexuality EducationHuman Reproduction: Key terms, reproductive organs, conception, foetal development, childbirth, disorders.Human Sexuality: Meaning, importance, life skills (assertiveness, negotiation, communication).Family and Roles: Meaning, types, size, challenges (widowhood, single parenthood, in-laws, infidelity).Agencies Promoting Healthy Family Living.Family Planning & Safe Motherhood: Meaning, need, methods, safe motherhood practices.Population Education: Meaning, census, small/large populations, problems.
Emotional and Social HealthInterrelationship: Between mental, emotional and social health.Personality: Definition, traits, problems and solutions.Mental Health: Meaning, promotion, types, prevention, importance.
Consumer Health EducationConsumer Products & Services: Laws protecting consumers, factors influencing choice (authenticity, cost, availability, advertisement).Consumer Healthcare: Quacks and quackery (meaning, types), health insurance, advertising of health products.Nostrums: Meaning, types, reasons for avoiding.

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