National Assembly Halts WAEC Full CBT Rollout, Orders Suspension Until 2030

Lawmakers cite infrastructure gaps, risk of disenfranchising rural students, and demand mid-term readiness report from WAEC by 2028.

In a landmark decision, the National Assembly has directed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to suspend its planned full transition to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) until 2030, over concerns that many Nigerian secondary schools are ill-equipped to handle a fully digital examination system.

The resolution was reached during a joint sitting of the Senate and House Committees on Basic Education, where lawmakers interrogated WAEC officials on their preparedness to migrate all examinations from the traditional paper-and-pencil format to a digital platform.

Lawmakers highlighted that unreliable electricity, limited computer access, poor internet connectivity, and inadequately trained teachers in many schools could leave thousands of students—particularly in rural and low-income areas—at a disadvantage if CBT is fully enforced.

Senator Adeniyi Adebayo, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said:
“We cannot allow a system that will automatically disenfranchise students simply because their schools lack computers or stable power. WAEC must demonstrate full readiness before any permanent transition. Equity, accessibility, and integrity in our National examinations must be upheld.”

WAEC, represented by its Head of Operations, Dr. Charles Okechukwu, acknowledged the infrastructural and logistical challenges but stressed that the shift to CBT is part of its long-term strategy to curb malpractice, speed up result processing, and align with International standards. The council assured lawmakers it would continue its hybrid examination model, which currently allows selected subjects to be conducted via CBT.

The National Assembly also mandated collaboration between WAEC, the Federal Ministry of Education, State Governments, and private sector stakeholders to upgrade exam centres, provide digital training for teachers, and implement Nationwide sensitisation programmes before the 2030 rollout.

Education experts have welcomed the decision, noting that the extended timeline provides an opportunity to address cybersecurity concerns, ensure backup power across examination centres, and equip every school with minimum ICT requirements.

They emphasized that this phased approach could prevent technical glitches and candidate frustrations witnessed in early CBT adoption by other examination bodies.

WAEC is required to submit a mid-term readiness report by 2028, detailing progress on infrastructure upgrades, trial examinations, and capacity building for teachers and students.

The House Committee also recommended that budgetary allocations from 2026 to 2029 include provisions for computer halls, internet access, standby generators, teacher recruitment, and digital training, to ensure that the 2030 CBT rollout is seamless.

Stakeholders, including student groups and teacher unions, have welcomed the move, describing it as a pragmatic decision that balances modernization with fairness, ensuring no student is left behind in Nigeria’s educational reform journey.