The House of Representatives has directed the Federal Ministry of Education and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to suspend the planned introduction of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The directive followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Kelechi Wogu during Thursday’s plenary. The motion, titled “Need for Intervention to Avert Massive Failure in the Proposed 2026 WAEC Computer-Based Examination,” warned that rushing into a CBT model could lead to widespread failure, frustration, and mental distress among students.
Wogu noted that despite strong objections from the Nigeria Union of Teachers, school administrators, and rural education stakeholders, the Ministry of Education appeared determined to proceed with the transition. He highlighted that over 70% of candidates sit for WAEC examinations in rural areas, where schools often lack functional computer laboratories, internet connectivity, reliable electricity, and trained ICT personnel.
Citing the technical glitches that affected the 2025 WAEC results portal, Wogu argued that the system was not ready for a nationwide digital examination.
“CBT requires well-equipped halls, functional computers, stable internet, and constant power supply. Many schools simply are not ready for that level of transition,” he said.
To address the infrastructure gap, the House urged the Ministry of Education and state governments to make provisions in their 2026–2029 budgets for the recruitment of ICT teachers, establishment of digital labs, installation of internet facilities, and provision of backup power sources.
The House further resolved that WAEC should not implement CBT before the 2030 academic year.
The motion received unanimous support, and the House mandated its Committees on Basic Education, Digital and Information Technology, Examination Bodies, and Labour to interface with relevant stakeholders and report back within four weeks.
Background on CBT in Nigeria
The adoption of CBT in Nigeria was introduced to curb examination malpractice and modernise the education system. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) pioneered full CBT in 2015, after piloting the model in 2013. Since then, bodies such as NECO and NABTEB have gradually incorporated limited digital components into their assessments.
However, challenges such as inadequate digital infrastructure, poor internet coverage, unstable electricity supply, and limited access to functional computers—especially in rural and public schools—continue to hinder full-scale implementation.
In 2024, WAEC announced plans to roll out CBT for WASSCE by 2026, sparking widespread debate. Critics argued that most schools are not equipped for the transition, while supporters emphasised its potential to improve transparency, efficiency, and global competitiveness.
In September, WAEC released a list of mandatory facilities schools must provide ahead of the migration, including 250 functional laptops (with 10% backups), a robust server, a full Local Area Network setup, CCTV, uninterrupted power supply, ACs, adequate lighting, and a candidate holding room.
