The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to suspend the West African Examinations Council’s (WAEC) plan to introduce Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), warning that the move could lead to widespread academic failure, psychological stress, and even fatalities among students.
The call came after Hon. Kelechi Nworgu presented a motion of urgent public importance on Thursday, urging swift intervention to avert what he described as a looming educational crisis.
In his remarks with House of Representatives, Nworgu acknowledged that while CBT has been effectively used by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the current state of most Nigerian secondary schools makes the proposed shift for WAEC exams in 2026 premature.
He stressed that the Federal Ministry of Education’s plan to conduct the 2026 WASSCE via CBT, despite objections from the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, and school principals, would place millions of students at a significant disadvantage, particularly those in rural communities who lack computers, stable electricity, and internet connectivity.
“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.
Nworgu warned that the initiative is being rushed without sufficient groundwork and cautioned that its fallout could be severe, potentially resulting in mass failure, frustration, drug abuse, and other social ills among young people.
He recommended that WAEC and the Ministry of Education postpone the CBT rollout for at least three years, suggesting a more feasible implementation period around the 2029–2030 academic session, after necessary infrastructure and training have been established.
In response, the House of representatives directed WAEC and the Ministry of Education to immediately suspend the planned CBT initiative.
House of representatives urged the government to allocate funds from the 2026 budget for hiring computer teachers, constructing computer labs with internet access, and installing standby generators in schools nationwide.
The House of representatives also tasked its Committees on Basic Examination Bodies, Digital and Information Technology, Basic Education and Services, and Labour, Employment and Productivity to engage stakeholders in the education and technology sectors and submit a report within four weeks to guide further legislative measures.
