The WAEC Food and Nutrition syllabus for the 2026/2027 session is the prescribed resource for candidates sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in this subject. It is designed for both school candidates and private (GCE) entrants across all WAEC member countries, namely Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Liberia.
As a vocational subject, Food and Nutrition prepares students for employment and promotes the innovative use of indigenous foods to meet consumers' dietary requirements. It provides candidates with hands on competencies needed for careers in the food industry.
Aims and Objectives
- Acquire basic knowledge about foods and nutrition.
- Understand the relationship between nutrition and health.
- Identify career opportunities in food and nutrition and acquire skills for further studies.
- Apply the general principles underlying meal planning, selection, preparation and serving of food to feed families and other consumers for different occasions;
- Understand the need for planning an efficient and safe kitchen.
- Choose, use, care and store kitchen equipment and tools effectively;
- Appreciate the importance of sanitation in kitchen food preparation and service.
- Apply basic principles underlying food processing, storage and preservation; acquire basic knowledge in consumer education.
- Acquire research skills and use the information to experiment, develop and improve local dishes;
- Set up a business in the food industry using all the basic skills acquired.
Examination Scheme
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 and will be taken in one sitting.
PAPER 1:
This will comprise sixty multiple-choice questions, all of which are to be answered within 1 hour for 60 marks.
PAPER 2:
This will comprise six essay questions, out of which candidates will be required to answer four. The paper will carry 40 marks and will last 1 hour and 15 minutes.
PAPER 3:
This will be a practical test lasting 3 hours. It will carry 100 marks and will be conducted by a visiting examiner.
RELATED ARTICLE:
WAEC Syllabus 2026/2027 for All Subjects: SSCE & GCE
WAEC Syllabus for Food and Nutrition 2026/2027
| SECTIONS | TOPIC |
| Introduction to Foods and Nutrition | Meaning Basic knowledge of Nutrition Importance of Human Nutrition Factors Affecting Foods and Nutrition Food Habits |
| Careers associated with Foods and Nutrition | Careers associated with Foods and Nutrition Factors that influence career choices Characteristics required for Foods and Nutrition careers |
| Basic Food Nutrients | The nutrients and their nutritive values Functions of the different nutrients Sources of the different nutrients Dietary deficiencies Metabolism,(digestion and absorption of foods carbohydrate, protein, fat). Knowledge and use of food composition table Food tests: simple physical and chemical tests of foodstuffs to detect the presence of nutrients in foods e.g. proteins, fats and carbohydrates. |
| The kitchen | Types of kitchens, e.g., traditional, modern, institutional. Planning different types of kitchens. Factors to consider when planning. Cleaning agents and abrasives (commercial and local). |
| Kitchen equipment and tools | Classes and types of equipment Selection, use, care and storage of large and small equipment, fixtures and appliances. |
| Safety in the kitchen | Types of kitchen accidents Causes and prevention of accidents Content and use of first aid box Simple first aid treatment |
| Sanitation in the kitchen | Personal Hygiene Kitchen hygiene, e.g., general cleaning, waste disposal, pests, and pest control. Food hygiene, e.g., handling of foods, foodborne diseases, and food sanitation laws. |
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