Reps urge WAEC to delay full computer-based exams until 2030
Lawmakers say Nigeria is not ready for full digital testing as schools in rural areas lack basic infrastructure.
The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Ministry of Education and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to suspend plans to introduce full Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for school candidates until 2030, citing widespread unpreparedness across the country.
The decision followed growing concern that most secondary schools, particularly in rural areas, are not equipped to handle the demands of digital examinations. Lawmakers warned that rushing the transition could widen the gap between students with access to technology and those without.
WAEC, with support from the Federal Government, had earlier announced plans to conduct the 2026 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) using computers. The model had been piloted with private candidates in 2024.
On Thursday, the House adopted a motion sponsored by Rep. Kelechi Wogu, who cautioned that Nigeria risks mass failure among students if the rollout is implemented prematurely. He highlighted the lack of basic facilities such as functional computer laboratories, stable electricity, and trained teachers in many public schools.
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Rep. Wogu noted that about 25,500 schools nationwide are expected to present candidates for the 2026 WAEC examination, which typically runs over four months. Many schools, especially outside major cities, still face challenges such as insufficient computers, unreliable power supply, and a shortage of qualified computer science teachers.
He also recalled that WAEC’s online result portal temporarily crashed in 2025 due to technical issues, leaving thousands of students anxious. This, he said, was a clear indication that the country is not yet ready for full-scale CBT.
Unlike the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, which is fully computer-based, WAEC requires students to take up to nine subjects, including theory, objective, and practical papers. This makes an abrupt shift to digital testing impractical.
The House recommended that the Education Ministry and state governments use the next four years to prepare adequately before introducing CBT in 2030. Lawmakers called for budget allocations between 2026 and 2029 to cover recruitment of computer teachers, construction of computer halls with internet access, provision of standby generators, and assessment of private schools’ readiness.
The House further directed its Committees on Basic Examination Bodies, Digital and Information Technology, Basic Education and Services, and Labour, Employment and Productivity to engage stakeholders and report back within four weeks.
Meanwhile, WAEC continues to push for the shift to computer-based exams. The Council recently launched a sensitisation campaign titled “CB-WASSCE: New Way, Same Destination,” insisting that the 2024 pilot with private candidates showed “significant progress.”
However, the lawmakers’ position underscores a broader national issue: the gap between education policy and classroom reality. While digital examinations may represent progress on paper, the lack of essential infrastructure means that a rushed rollout could leave thousands of students behind.
