House of Reps Call for Suspension of WAEC’s CBT Exams Until 2030

The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Ministry of Education and the West African Examinations Council to suspend the proposed rollout of Computer-Based Testing for the 2026 May/June school examinations, citing major infrastructure and manpower gaps across the country.

The resolution followed growing concerns that most secondary schools — particularly those in rural communities — are not equipped to support a full transition to CBT.

WAEC had earlier secured the Federal Government’s approval to commence the 2026 school examination using computers, building on its partial deployment of the system for private candidates in 2024. However, lawmakers insist the timeline is unrealistic.

Adopting a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Rep. Kelechi Wogu, the House directed the Ministry of Education and state governments to begin making provisions in the 2026–2029 budget cycles for comprehensive digital readiness. These preparations include recruiting computer teachers, constructing ICT-compliant exam halls with internet access, providing standby power sources, and assessing the preparedness of both public and private schools.

Rep. Wogu, while leading the debate, emphasized that WAEC’s examination is a core requirement for higher education admission, making the risks of mass failure too high to ignore. He recalled the temporary shutdown of the 2025 WAEC result portal due to technical glitches, which left thousands of candidates anxious and uncertain.

He expressed further concern that more than 70 percent of candidates come from underserved rural areas where schools lack functional ICT labs and qualified personnel. Despite pushback from the Nigeria Union of Teachers and heads of schools, the Education Ministry maintained its plan to introduce CBT by 2026.

According to the lawmaker, WAEC candidates take an average of nine subjects — including theory, objectives, and practicals — making a hurried shift to CBT far more complex than the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s model.

He warned that premature implementation could trigger widespread failure, frustration, depression, and other social consequences for students.

The House therefore urged WAEC to postpone the policy and allow for at least three additional years of preparation, recommending a full transition no earlier than the 2029–2030 academic session.