The House of Representatives has ordered the Federal Ministry of Education and the West African Examinations Council to suspend the planned introduction of Computer-Based Testing for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination.
The directive followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Kelechi Wogu during Thursday’s plenary session.
His motion was titled “Need for Intervention to Avert Massive Failure in the Proposed 2026 WAEC Computer-Based Examination.”
The lawmaker warned that rushing into the CBT model could trigger widespread failure, frustration, and mental distress among students.
Wogu expressed concern that the Ministry of Education was determined to proceed with the digital examination format despite objections from the National Union of Teachers and heads of schools, especially those in rural areas, where more than 70 per cent of candidates are located.
He noted that most schools, particularly outside urban centres, lack functional computer laboratories, internet access, reliable electricity, and trained ICT teachers.
He stressed that introducing CBT in such conditions would be disastrous, citing the technical glitches that disrupted the 2025 WAEC results portal as evidence of unpreparedness.
The computer-based system requires well-equipped halls with functional computers, stable internet, and constant power supply. Many schools are simply not ready for that level of transition,” he said.
To address these challenges, the House directed the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with state governments, to include in their 2026–2029 budgets provisions for recruiting computer teachers, constructing ICT halls, installing internet facilities, and providing backup power sources.
The House further resolved that the CBT system should not be implemented before the 2030 academic year.
