The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has reiterated its commitment to transition the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to a fully computer-based testing (CBT) system by 2026.
The Head of the National Office, Dr. Amos Dangut, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during a sensitisation session with members of the National Assembly Committee on Education.
According to Dangut, the digital shift, which commenced in 2024 with private candidates, has already shown remarkable progress and will be expanded nationwide. He explained that mock sessions and online practice platforms would be introduced to ensure that students across the country become familiar with the CBT format, stressing that “no student will be left behind.”
He further revealed that WAEC had successfully conducted five examinations so far—covering both private and school candidates—and expressed confidence that large-scale implementation would be achieved by 2026.
Addressing concerns about inadequate infrastructure and cybersecurity risks, Dangut assured stakeholders that WAEC had already conducted examinations in remote and hard-to-reach areas without major disruptions. He also highlighted that candidates’ performances under the CBT model had been “empirically better” than in traditional paper-based assessments.
Lawmakers at the meeting pledged their support for the project. Senator Ekong Samson, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, said the National Assembly would work to boost funding for the education sector to facilitate the transition. Similarly, Rep. Oboku Oforji called on WAEC to establish at least one CBT centre in each of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas ahead of the 2026 deadline.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the migration as a landmark development that aligns with the government’s ongoing reforms in curriculum delivery, digital learning tools, and education infrastructure.
