Reps halt WAEC 2026 CBT plan, say schools not ready till 2030

Reps halt WAEC 2026 CBT plan, say schools not ready till 2030

The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Ministry of Education and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to suspend plans to introduce Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for school candidates until 2030.

Lawmakers said the 2026 target announced by WAEC was unrealistic, given the acute shortage of infrastructure and trained personnel in most public schools, especially in rural communities.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance by Rep. Kelechi Wogu (PDP, Rivers), adopted at Thursday’s plenary.

Wogu, in his motion titled “Need for Intervention to Avert the Pending Massive Failure of Candidates Intending to Write the 2026 WAEC Examination Using CBT, Capable of Causing Depression and Deaths of Students,” warned that a premature rollout could lead to mass failure, frustration, and even psychological distress among students.

He recalled that WAEC’s 2025 online result-checking portal crashed temporarily due to “technical glitches,” leaving thousands of candidates stranded — a development he said exposed the system’s fragility.

“The House is aware that most schools lack functional computers, reliable internet connectivity, and constant power supply needed for CBT,” Wogu said, noting that over 70 per cent of WAEC candidates are from rural areas.

He added that about 25,500 schools nationwide are expected to present candidates for the 2026 examination, which typically spans four months and covers at least nine subjects — including theory, objectives, and practicals.

“Unlike JAMB, WAEC exams are more extensive and would require massive digital infrastructure and teacher retraining,” he said.

The House urged the Ministry of Education and state governments to make budgetary provisions between 2026 and 2029 for the recruitment of computer teachers, construction of ICT halls, internet connectivity, and standby power supply ahead of a phased rollout in 2030.

It also mandated its Committees on Basic Examination Bodies, Digital and Information Technology, Basic Education and Services, and Labour, Employment and Productivity to liaise with relevant stakeholders and report back within four weeks.