The federal government has announced that the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) will be taken fully via Computer-Based Testing (CBT) by 2026, marking a historic overhaul of Nigeria’s secondary school assessment system.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa had, in April, directed the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO) to adopt full CBT for all their examinations by 2026.
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In a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, Mr Alausa confirmed the official transition of the WAEC-administered WASSCE.
“Today, I had the honour of announcing a historic milestone in our education sector — the official transition of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to Computer-Based Testing (CBT),” he wrote.
Mr Alausa noted that the adoption of computer-based examinations is a deliberate step to safeguard the credibility of certificates and empower Nigerian children with the skills needed for a knowledge-driven economy.
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He said the reform will strengthen the integrity of examinations, reduce malpractice, and ensure Nigeria’s assessment system meets global standards.
“For over 73 years, @waecnigeria has remained a dependable partner in advancing education across West Africa. With innovations such as the Digital Examiners’ Mark Sheet, WAEC Konnect, the e-Learning platform, and the Digital Certificate Platform, the council has consistently shown its commitment to technological progress,” he said.
He assured parents, teachers and students that the education ministry will work closely with schools to ensure that learners are adequately prepared for a ‘smooth, successful and transformative’ transition.
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WAEC begins phased rollout
Meanwhile, WAEC said on Tuesday a phased approach of implementing the CBT examination was already being implemented, starting with objective questions before expanding to theory and practical components, to allow schools and candidates to adapt.
WAEC had begun conducting its private (November/December) WASSCE via CBT since last year.
During a sensitisation session organised for members of the National Assembly Committee on Education on Tuesday, the lawmakers raised concerns about uneven access to technology, persistent infrastructural deficits, and low levels of digital literacy among students in rural communities, The Punch reported.
However, the Head of WAEC National Office, Amos Dangut, assured the lawmakers that the new computer-based examination would be accessible to students in every part of the country, regardless of location or access to technology.
He said the examination body is committed to equity, transparency and fairness, He noted that examination centres were being mapped out in every local government area to reduce travel burdens and costs on parents.
Mr Dangut added that the CBT model would help combat malpractice, speed up result processing, and strengthen the credibility of the examination system.
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