The May/June WAEC examination is just around the corner, and if you are a student getting ready or a tutor helping someone prepare, then you already know how important Civic Education is. As one of the core and compulsory subjects, every candidate sitting for WAEC must take and pass Civic Education.
To make preparation easier for candidates, WAEC has officially released the full syllabus for all subjects, including Civic Education. The WAEC Syllabus for Civic Education is your guide, it helps you focus on the topics that are most likely to appear in the exam so you don’t waste time reading what may not come out.
In this guide, we’ll break down the WAEC Syllabus for Civic Education 2025, helping you understand the structure, key topics, and strategies for effective preparation. Students hoping for a top score or simply wish to gain a better understanding of the world around them, this article will provide a roadmap for success in Civic Education.
Below, you will find the complete WAEC Civic Education syllabus along with the recommended textbooks for your revision.
Examination Format
The exam is made up of two papers (Paper 1 and Paper 2) and both will be taken at the same time in a single session.
Paper 1: Multiple Choice
- Duration: 1 hour
- Type: Objective (Multiple Choice Questions)
- Number of Questions: 50
- Coverage: Questions will be based on the full syllabus
- Total Marks: 40
Paper 2: Essay Questions
Duration: 2 hours
Type: Essay-type questions
Sections: Divided into 3 sections
- Section A – National ethics, discipline, rights, and responsibilities
- Section B – Issues affecting today’s society
- Section C – How government works
Questions to Answer: 4 in total
You must choose at least one question from each section
- Total Marks: 60
WAEC Syllabus For Civic Education
| SECTION | TOPIC | SUBTOPICS |
|---|---|---|
| A | National Ethics, Discipline, Rights and Obligations | |
| 1 | Values | 1) Definition 2) Types 3) Importance of values to the society |
| 2 | Citizenship and Nationalism | 1) Meaning of citizenship 2) Meaning of citizenship education 3) Goals of citizenship education 4) Duties and obligations of citizens 5) Meaning of nationalism 6) Ways of promoting national consciousness, integrity and unity in society 7) Nationalistic roles of individuals and groups 8) Identification of local and world civic problems |
| 3 | Human Rights | 1) Meaning of human rights 2) Categories of human rights 3) Characteristics of human rights 4) Meaning and historical background of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) 5) Meaning and identification of the seven core freedoms of UDHR 6) Importance of UDHR 7) Roles of individuals, groups, and government in UDHR 8) Limitations to the exercise of human rights |
| 4 | Law and Order | 1) Definition of law and order 2) Features of law and order 3) Importance of law and order in society 4) Meaning of constituted authority 5) Types of constituted authority 6) Importance and roles of constituted authority |
| 5 | Responsible Parenthood | 1) Meaning of responsible parenthood 2) Roles of responsible parents 3) Importance of responsible parenthood in national development |
| 6 | Traffic Regulations | 1) Meaning of traffic regulations 2) Traffic regulations and their importance in society 3) Roles of individuals and government in maintaining traffic regulations |
| 7 | Inter-Personal Relationships | 1) Meaning of interpersonal relationships 2) Types of interpersonal relationships 3) Skills that promote interpersonal relationships 4) Meaning of inter-communal relationships 5) Importance of inter-communal relationships 6) Meaning of inter-communal conflicts 7) Skills for resolving inter-communal conflicts |
| B | Emerging Issues in the Society | |
| 8 | Cultism | 1) Meaning and origin of cultism 2) Different cult groups in Nigeria and their symbols 3) Reasons for cultism 4) Consequences of cultism 5) Ways of preventing cultism |
| 9 | Drugs and Drug Abuse | 1) Meaning of drug abuse 2) Drugs that can be abused 3) How drugs are abused 4) Symptoms of drug abuse 5) Behaviours of drug addicts 6) Ways of preventing drug abuse 7) Government agencies working to prevent drug abuse/trafficking and their activities 8) Laws against drug abuse |
| 10 | Human Trafficking | 1) Meaning of human trafficking 2) Causes of human trafficking 3) Effects and consequences of human trafficking 4) Efforts of government and individuals to stop human trafficking |
| 11 | HIV/AIDS | 1) Meaning of HIV/AIDS 2) Causes of HIV/AIDS 3) Symptoms and effects of HIV/AIDS 4) Prevention of HIV/AIDS 5) Stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS |
| 12 | Youth Empowerment | 1) Meaning of youth empowerment 2) Youth empowerment skills 3) Importance and benefits of youth empowerment skills 4) Efforts of government towards youth empowerment |
| C | Governmental System and Processes | |
| 13 | Structure and Functions of Government | 1) Meaning of government 2) Structure/tiers of government 3) Functions of government |
| 14 | Democracy, Rule of Law and National Development | 1) Meaning, types, and features of democracy 2) Importance of democracy 3) Pillars of democracy 4) Problems of democracy 5) Meaning of rule of law 6) Features of rule of law 7) Importance of rule of law 8) Problems of rule of law 9) Meaning of national development 10) How democracy and rule of law promote national development (good governance, employment creation, poverty alleviation, etc.) |
| 15 | Political Apathy | 1) Meaning of political apathy 2) Causes of political apathy 3) Consequences of political apathy 4) Why leaders fail to protect interests of followers 5) How leaders can protect interests of followers 6) Ways of discouraging political apathy |
| 16 | Civil Society and Popular Participation | 1) Meaning of popular participation 2) Types of popular participation 3) Need for popular participation in society 4) Traditional and modern modes of popular participation 5) Achieving popular participation in politics 6) Meaning of civil society 7) Functions/need for civil society 8) Qualities/characteristics of civil society (accountability, fairness, justice, equity, etc.) 9) Problems of civil society (bribery and corruption, inadequate funding, overbearing influence of foreign donors, etc.) |
| 17 | Public Service in Democracy | 1) Meaning of public service 2) Functions of public service 3) Problems of public service 4) Reasons for shortcomings in public service 5) Ways of improving public service |
Tips for Effective Study and Preparation
To succeed in the WAEC Civic Education exam, here are some effective study tips:
- Familiarize yourself with the topics listed in the syllabus. Each topic is important for both the theory and objective papers.
- Practice past WASSCE questions to familiarize yourself with the exam format and identify recurring themes.
- Create charts, diagrams, and mind maps to summarize key concepts like the structure of government, democracy, rights, and responsibilities.
- Keep track of current events and issues related to governance, politics, and national development, as this will help you in answering application-based questions.
- Join a study group where you can discuss concepts and clarify doubts with peers. This also helps in gaining different perspectives on civic issues.
- Consistent revision is key. Go over your notes frequently to ensure you remember important facts and ideas.
- Don’t hesitate to ask your teacher for clarification on challenging topics.
Conclusion
The WAEC Civic Education Syllabus for 2025 offers students an opportunity to deepen their understanding of governance, rights, and responsibilities and to become better, informed citizens. By studying the topics carefully, practicing past exam questions, and staying informed about current events, you can build a strong foundation for your exam success.
With proper preparation, you’ll not only perform well in your exams but also contribute meaningfully to society as a responsible citizen. We trust that this post has been helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comment section, and we will respond promptly.
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