The House of Representatives has directed the Federal Ministry of Education and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to suspend the planned rollout of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), shifting full adoption to the year 2030.
The directive followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national 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 fast-tracking the digital examination model could result in widespread failure, frustration, and psychological distress among students.
Wogu noted that while the Ministry of Education appears determined to push forward with CBT, the National Union of Teachers, school principals, and education stakeholders—especially in rural communities where over 70% of candidates reside—have consistently objected due to inadequate readiness.
According to him, the majority of schools outside major cities lack basic digital infrastructure, including functional computer laboratories, stable internet service, consistent electricity supply, and trained ICT instructors.
He further recalled the technical glitches that affected the 2025 WAEC results portal, describing the incident as clear proof that the system is not prepared for full CBT implementation.
“A computer-based exam requires well-equipped halls with reliable computers, stable internet, and continuous power supply. Many schools are simply nowhere near that level of readiness,” Wogu said.
To bridge the infrastructure gap, the House mandated the Ministry of Education—working with state governments—to include in the 2026–2029 budget cycles the recruitment of computer teachers, construction of ICT centres, provision of internet facilities, and installation of backup power sources.
The lawmakers unanimously resolved that WAEC must not implement the CBT system before the 2030 academic year.
The House also assigned its Committees on Basic Education, Digital and Information Technology, Examination Bodies, and Labour to interface with relevant stakeholders and report back within four weeks.
CBT was initially introduced in Nigeria to curb examination malpractice and modernise assessment systems. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) pioneered its use in 2013 and fully transitioned to CBT by 2015, prompting other exam bodies—including NECO and NABTEB—to adopt elements of digital testing on a gradual scale.
However, persistent challenges remain, particularly in public and rural schools where digital infrastructure is either inadequate or non-existent.
WAEC’s 2024 announcement that it would migrate WASSCE to CBT by 2026 triggered nationwide debate. Teachers, parents, and education unions argued that the majority of schools lack facilities and trained personnel to support such a major transition.
Supporters of the initiative say digital examinations will enhance transparency, reduce malpractice, improve efficiency, and position Nigeria competitively within global education standards.
In September, WAEC released a list of mandatory requirements for CBT-compliant schools—including at least 250 functional laptops with 10% backups, a server capable of supporting 250 devices, a LAN setup, air-conditioned exam halls, uninterrupted power supply, CCTV surveillance, and a standby generator with a minimum capacity of 40kVA.
With the latest legislative intervention, the nationwide rollout will now be delayed for at least four more years.