The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to immediately suspend the West African Examinations Council’s (WAEC) plan to introduce Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), warning that the move could trigger mass academic failure, psychological trauma, and even student fatalities.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Kelechi Nworgu during Thursday’s plenary.
While presenting the motion, Nworgu acknowledged that computer-based testing has worked effectively for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), but stressed that the realities in Nigerian secondary schools make the transition unrealistic for WAEC examinations.
He noted that the majority of schools lack the infrastructure and manpower needed to support such a major shift in assessment.
“Most of the over 25,500 schools across the country, especially in rural areas, do not have functional computers or qualified computer teachers,” Nworgu said.
“Many students have never used a computer before, yet they are being compelled to take up to nine subjects, including theory and practical exams, through CBT.”
The lawmaker expressed worries that forcing millions of students—particularly those in rural communities—to take the 2026 WASSCE via CBT would place them at a significant disadvantage.
He highlighted widespread shortages of electricity, internet connectivity, and ICT facilities across Nigerian schools, adding that teachers and principals had already opposed the policy.
Nworgu warned that implementing the plan without adequate preparation could lead to mass failure, frustration, drug abuse, and other social crises among young people.
To avert what he described as an avoidable crisis, Nworgu recommended that WAEC postpone the CBT rollout for at least three years, proposing a more realistic timeline between 2029 and 2030.
According to him, the period would allow for the installation of proper infrastructure and the training of teachers and students.
Following deliberations, the House directed WAEC and the Federal Ministry of Education to immediately suspend the planned CBT implementation.
It also urged the Federal Government to allocate funds in the 2026 budget for hiring qualified computer teachers, constructing computer laboratories equipped with internet access, and installing standby generators in schools nationwide.
The House mandated its Committees on Basic Examination Bodies, Digital and Information Technology, Basic Education and Services, and Labour, Employment and Productivity to engage relevant stakeholders in the education and technology sectors.
The committees are expected to submit a comprehensive report within four weeks to guide further legislative action.
The lawmakers reiterated that while modernising Nigeria’s examination systems is important, such reforms must not come at the expense of students’ academic success and psychological well-being.
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