National Assembly Orders Suspension of WAEC’s 2026 CBT Plan, Mandates Full Rollout to Await 2030 Due to Mass Failure Fears

In a major intervention aimed at preventing a potential crisis in the nation’s education sector, the House of Representatives today, Friday, November 14, 2025, ordered the immediate suspension of the planned introduction of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The directive, which followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance, mandated that the full CBT implementation be deferred until the 2029–2030 academic session to allow for necessary nationwide infrastructure and human resource development.

The motion, moved by Rep. Kelechi Wogu, warned that the premature introduction of the digital examination format could trigger “massive failure, depression, and social vices” among candidates who are largely unprepared for the shift.

Rural Schools and The Digital Divide

The central argument of the lawmakers focused on the stark digital divide plaguing the nation. Rep. Wogu emphasized that while the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has successfully implemented CBT, the conditions under which most secondary schoolsespecially those in rural communities operate make the WAEC transition “ill-timed and unrealistic.”

“The House is worried that most schools, particularly those in rural communities where over 70 per cent of candidates reside, lack functional computer halls, stable internet connectivity, and trained computer teachers,” Wogu stated. He noted that the examination body’s own technical glitches that affected the 2025 result portal highlight the system’s current unpreparedness for a full-scale digital examination involving nine subjects per candidate.

To mitigate the risks and ensure a smooth transition, the House directed the Federal Ministry of Education and state governments to include provisions in the 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029 budgets for the recruitment of qualified ICT teachers, the construction of computer halls, and the provision of standby power generators in schools across the country.

The resolution signals a clear legislative priority to ensure that the adoption of technology in high-stakes examinations is conducted equitably, preventing the policy from unfairly penalizing students from underserved areas.