WAEC set for full implementation of CBT for 2026 WASSCE

West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has confirmed its commitment to fully transitioning the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) by 2026, ensuring a seamless shift that upholds global standards.

During a sensitization session with the National Assembly Committee on Education in Abuja on Tuesday, WAEC’s Head of National Office, Dr. Amos Dangut, outlined the council’s readiness for this transformation.

Dangut emphasized that the CBT initiative, already underway, is designed to enhance the credibility of Nigeria’s certifications while aligning with international assessment practices.

“The Federal Government has directed that we carry out our exams using the computer testing mode, and by the grace of God, we have started it,” he stated.

“We are up to the task, and there is no going back. It is going to be on a large scale.”

Reflecting on progress, Dangut noted that WAEC conducted Nigeria’s first hybrid CB-WASSCE in 2024 for private candidates, combining paper and digital formats, and extended the system to school candidates in 2025 with notable success.

“We have done five exams now; four exams for the private candidates and one exam for the school candidates,” he said, adding that a full-scale rollout is planned for 2026, supported by mock exams and online practice platforms to prepare students.

Addressing concerns about accessibility, Dangut assured stakeholders that infrastructure challenges would not hinder the program.

“We have conducted exams even in hard-to-reach areas, so infrastructure will not stop this programme. All registered candidates will sit for their exams,” he affirmed.

He also dismissed fears of cyber-attacks or system failures, noting that previous CBT exams showed improved candidate performance compared to traditional paper-based tests.

Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, Sen. Adamu Usman, represented by Sen. Ekong Samson, pledged the National Assembly’s support, including efforts to boost education sector funding for the 2026 rollout.

Similarly, Rep. Oboku Oforji, representing Yenagoa/Opokuma, urged WAEC to establish at least one CBT center in each of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas and promised to engage the Minister of Education for further clarity.

Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa reinforced the government’s commitment to quality education, praising WAEC’s role in advancing learning across Africa.

“For more than seven decades, WAEC has remained a dependable institution, rendering invaluable service to the African child,” he said.

Alausa highlighted broader reforms, including curriculum updates and modern tools like smart boards, noting that the CBT transition aligns with the government’s vision to make education a cornerstone of national development.

“With WAEC leading this transition, we are confident that the credibility and merit-based outcomes of our examinations will be further secured,” he added.

NAN