The House of Representatives has ordered the suspension of the proposed Computer-Based Testing (CBT) system for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
Lawmakers warned that the move could trigger mass failure, psychological distress, and even lead to tragic consequences among students if implemented without adequate preparation.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent national importance moved by Hon. Kelechi Nworgu on Thursday during plenary. The lawmaker urged the Federal Government to intervene immediately, describing the plan as “a ticking time bomb in the nation’s education sector.”
Nworgu, while presenting the motion, acknowledged the success of the CBT model employed by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), but stressed that the nation’s secondary schools were not equipped for such a transition at the WAEC level.
According to him, the Ministry of Education’s move to digitise the 2026 WASSCE ignored glaring infrastructural gaps, especially in public schools located in rural areas.
“Out of the 25,500 schools across Nigeria, the majority lack functional computers, internet connectivity, or even stable electricity. Some students have never operated a computer before, yet they are expected to sit for nine subjects, including theory and practical exams, on the computer,” he said.
He warned that the proposed shift could deepen educational inequality and expose students to undue pressure, frustration, and social vices, including substance abuse and crime.
Nworgu recommended a postponement of the CBT rollout until at least the 2029 or 2030 academic session, by which time sufficient training and infrastructure could be established to ensure fairness and efficiency.
Adopting the motion, the House directed WAEC and the Federal Ministry of Education to suspend the planned CBT initiative immediately.
It also mandated the Federal Government to make budgetary provisions in the 2026 fiscal year for the recruitment of computer science teachers, establishment of ICT laboratories, installation of internet facilities, and provision of backup power supplies in schools nationwide.
Furthermore, the House referred the matter to its Committees on Basic Examination Bodies, Digital and Information Technology, Basic Education and Services, and Labour, Employment and Productivity for further legislative action and to report back within four weeks.
