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The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to suspend plans by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to introduce Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The motion was moved on Thursday after the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Kelechi Nworgu.
The House warned that the move could result in massive failure, depression, and even death among candidates.
While calling on the House to intervene to avert a looming educational crisis, Nworgu said 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 noted that 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 put millions of students at a disadvantage, especially those in rural areas who lack access to computers, electricity, and internet facilities.
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“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,” Nworgu said.
Speaking further, Nworgu advised the Ministry of Education and WAEC to defer implementation for at least three years, suggesting a transition period around the 2029–2030 academic year, after proper infrastructure and capacity have been put in place.
WAEC and the Federal Ministry of Education were subsequently directed to halt the planned CBT introduction immediately.
