The House of Representatives has directed the Federal Government to suspend the plan by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to introduce Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The lawmakers warned that the move, if implemented in its current form, could lead to massive academic failure, mental stress, and even possible fatalities among students who are not adequately prepared for such a major technological shift.
The decision followed a motion of urgent public importance raised on Thursday by Hon. Kelechi Nworgu, representing Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency of Rivers State. He urged the House to intervene before what he described as “an impending educational crisis” unfolds.
Presenting his motion, Hon. Nworgu acknowledged that computer-based testing has worked well for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which conducts university entrance examinations across Nigeria. However, he pointed out that secondary schools are not yet equipped to handle such a system for WAEC exams, which involve millions of students sitting for both objective and theory papers.
According to him, while JAMB’s CBT system caters mainly to candidates who already have some exposure to computers and digital learning, the situation is very different at the secondary school level.
“Most of the over 25,500 schools across the country, especially those in rural communities, do not have functional computers or qualified computer teachers,” Nworgu said. “Many students have never even used a computer before, yet they are being compelled to take up to nine subjects, including theory and practical exams, through CBT.”
He added that it would be unfair and unrealistic to expect students from under-resourced schools to compete on equal terms with those from better-equipped urban institutions.
The lawmaker further stressed that Nigeria’s public education system is still battling poor infrastructure, including inadequate classrooms, unreliable power supply, and limited access to the internet.
He said the Federal Ministry of Education’s decision to introduce computer-based testing for WAEC in 2026 ignored these realities and could “set up millions of students to fail.”
“Electricity supply remains unreliable in many states. Internet connectivity is weak, especially in rural areas. Even where computers exist, there are not enough to serve all students during major examinations,” he explained.
Nworgu also pointed out that the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) had earlier expressed their opposition to the move. Both groups argued that introducing CBT now would increase pressure on students and teachers without proper training or infrastructure.
In his submission, Nworgu warned that rushing the CBT transition could have severe academic and social consequences.
He said if the system is introduced without proper groundwork, it could lead to mass failure, student frustration, anxiety, and possibly higher dropout rates. In extreme cases, he cautioned, the psychological distress caused by failure or embarrassment could even result in tragic incidents.
“This is not just about examinations. It is about the lives and mental health of our young people. If we push them too fast without preparation, the outcome will be disastrous,” he said.
He also linked the risk of failure and frustration to wider social problems such as drug abuse, depression, and youth restiveness.
Following Nworgu’s presentation, the House of Representatives unanimously adopted the motion and ordered WAEC and the Federal Ministry of Education to suspend the 2026 CBT rollout plan immediately.
The lawmakers urged the Ministry to instead focus on strengthening the foundation for digital learning in schools across the country before introducing such a major reform.
Specifically, the House recommended that the government:
Recruit and train more computer science teachers across secondary schools.
Build and equip computer laboratories in every public secondary school, ensuring access to reliable internet connectivity.
Install standby generators or solar systems to ensure stable electricity supply during exams.
Allocate funds in the 2026 federal budget specifically for digital infrastructure and teacher training in schools.
The House also directed its Committees on Basic Examination Bodies, Digital and Information Technology, Basic Education and Services, and Labour, Employment and Productivity to engage with stakeholders in both the education and technology sectors.
The committees are to hold public hearings, assess the readiness of schools nationwide, and submit a detailed report to the House within four weeks. The report will guide future legislative measures on digital transformation in the education sector.
WAEC’s plan to adopt CBT follows a global trend of using technology to improve exam security, reduce malpractice, and speed up result processing.
The examination body announced earlier this year that starting from 2026, the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) — one of the largest school-leaving exams in Africa — would gradually shift from paper-and-pencil tests to a computer-based model.
According to WAEC officials, the move aims to modernise the examination process, reduce human error, and align Nigeria’s education system with global best practices.
However, education stakeholders have raised concerns that the plan overlooks the digital divide between urban and rural schools. Many teachers argue that without adequate preparation, the transition could deepen inequality in education outcomes.
Mrs. Funke Oyewole, a secondary school principal in Ogun State, said that only a small percentage of public schools currently have working computer laboratories.
“It would be unfair to subject our students to CBT when most of them have never used a mouse or keyboard,” she said. “We must prepare them properly before changing the examination system.”
With the House resolution now in place, the ball is back in the court of the Federal Ministry of Education and WAEC. Both institutions are expected to comply with the directive and present an alternative implementation plan that prioritises training and infrastructure.
The suspension of the CBT rollout means that the 2026 WASSCE will likely remain paper-based, while preparations for digital exams continue in the background.
For many Nigerians, the debate reflects a larger issue — the struggle to balance modernization with fairness in a country where access to technology remains deeply unequal.
