The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to suspend plans by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to introduce Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), warning that the move could trigger mass failure and psychological distress among students.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved on Thursday by Hon. Kelechi Nworgu, who cautioned that the planned digital shift, though well-intentioned, was premature and potentially disastrous for millions of secondary school students across Nigeria.
Nworgu, while presenting the motion, said that unlike the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which has successfully implemented CBT over time, most secondary schools lack the infrastructure and capacity to support such a transition.
He noted that “over 25,500 schools across the country, especially in rural communities, do not have functional computers, reliable electricity, or qualified computer teachers. Many students have never used a computer before, yet they are expected to sit for multiple subjects, including theory and practical papers, using CBT.”
The lawmaker described the move by the Federal Ministry of Education and WAEC as “hasty and insensitive,” arguing that implementing CBT in 2026 without adequate preparation could lead to widespread frustration, mass failure, and even psychological breakdown among students.
He added that the policy would deepen educational inequality, further disadvantaging children in under-resourced areas who already face infrastructural and economic challenges.
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To avert what he termed “a looming educational crisis,” Nworgu proposed that the transition to CBT should be deferred for at least three years, recommending a new implementation window between 2029 and 2030 after the necessary facilities, training, and orientation have been provided nationwide.
Following deliberations, the House directed WAEC and the Ministry of Education to suspend the planned rollout immediately, pending further review and readiness assessment.
Lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to include provisions in the 2026 national budget for the recruitment of computer science teachers, construction of ICT-compliant examination halls, installation of internet access, and provision of backup generators in public schools.