WAEC Reaffirms 2026 Target for Fully Computer-Based Examinations
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has reaffirmed its plan to fully migrate the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to a computer-based testing (CBT) format by 2026.
Head of WAEC’s National Office, Dr. Amos Dangut, announced the update during a sensitisation meeting with the National Assembly Committee on Education in Abuja.
He explained that the transition, which began with private candidates in 2024, has already recorded “significant progress” and will be expanded nationwide ahead of the 2026 deadline.
“So far, we have conducted five exams, both for private and school candidates, and by 2026, deployment will be massive,” he said.
Despite concerns over infrastructure and cyber risks, Dangut noted that WAEC had successfully delivered CBT exams even in hard-to-reach areas without disruptions. He added that candidates’ performance in CBT had been “empirically better” than in paper-based tests.
The Federal Government has also backed the plan. On July 22, 2025, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced that thousands of private and public CBT centres nationwide would be deployed for school-based WASSCE, similar to the model used by JAMB.
This shift signals a new phase in Nigeria’s education system, one that embraces technology and seeks to prepare learners for a digital future.
As we applaud these reforms, it is important to remember every child’s right to quality education, as guaranteed under the Child Rights Act, 2003. Access, fairness, and equal opportunity must remain at the heart of this transformation.
