Reps urge FG to halt WAEC’s plan for CBT exams

The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to suspend the planned introduction of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Lawmakers expressed strong concern that implementing CBT could trigger widespread failure among students, as well as cause anxiety, depression, and even tragic consequences for those unable to cope with the change.

The decision followed a motion of urgent public importance moved on Thursday by Hon. Kelechi Nworgu, who cautioned that the sudden shift to a digital exam format would create serious challenges for many schools, particularly those in rural areas lacking basic ICT infrastructure.

Moving the motion, Nworgu noted that while CBT has been successfully adopted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the conditions under which most secondary schools operate across Nigeria make such a transition premature for WAEC examinations in 2026.

He said the Federal Ministry of Education’s plan to conduct the 2026 examination using CBT, despite protests from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and school heads, would unfairly disadvantage millions of students, particularly those in rural areas who lack access to computers, reliable electricity, and internet facilities.

“Most of the over 25,500 schools across the country, especially in rural areas, do not have functional computers or qualified computer teachers. Many students have never used a computer before, yet they are being compelled to take up to nine subjects, including theory and practical exams, through CBT,” he said.

He argued that the proposed policy was being rushed without adequate preparation, warning that the consequences could be devastating, leading to mass failure, frustration, drug abuse, and other social vices among young people.

The lawmaker proposed that the Ministry of Education and WAEC should defer implementation for at least three years, suggesting that the transition to computer-based examinations should begin around the 2029–2030 academic year, after proper infrastructure and capacity must have been put in place.

The House consequently directed WAEC and the Federal Ministry of Education to suspend the planned CBT introduction immediately.

It also urged the government to, beginning from the 2026 budget, provide for the recruitment of computer teachers, construction of computer halls with internet access, and provision of standby generators in schools across the country.

In addition, the House mandated its Committees on Basic Examination Bodies, Digital and Information Technology, Basic Education and Services, and Labour, Employment and Productivity to engage relevant stakeholders in the education and technology sectors and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.