FG commends smooth WAEC 2026 conduct, hails successful CBT rollout

Federal Government has commended the smooth and credible conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) organised by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), particularly the successful introduction of the Computer-Based Test (CBT) model in selected centres across the country.

Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, gave the commendation during an on-the-spot monitoring exercise of the examination in Abuja, where she visited Government Secondary School, Garki, and Apo Boys Secondary School, observing both CBT-enabled and traditional paper-and-pencil examination centres.

She expressed satisfaction with the overall conduct of the examinations, noting that candidates demonstrated discipline, preparedness, and confidence across both formats. At CBT centres, students navigated the digital platform with ease and reported smooth experiences with no significant disruptions, while paper-based centres maintained orderly and well-supervised environments.

The Minister disclosed that extensive pilot testing was conducted prior to the nationwide rollout of CBT, while alternative power solutions, including solar systems and generators, were deployed to ensure uninterrupted examinations. She reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to a gradual, inclusive digital transition based on infrastructure readiness across schools.

According to the Head of National Office of WAEC in Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Dangut, the 2026 WASSCE recorded 1,959,636 candidates from about 29,000 schools nationwide, reflecting the large-scale participation in the examination exercise.

The Federal Government reiterated that the ongoing transition to a fully digital examination system is being carefully managed to ensure fairness, inclusiveness, and reliability, assuring that no candidate or region will be left behind as reforms continue.