FG, National Assembly Endorse WAEC’s Transition to Computer-Based Testing by 2026
The Federal Government and the National Assembly have officially thrown their support behind the West African Examinations Council’s (WAEC) plan to transition from traditional paper-based exams to Computer-Based Tests (CBT) across Nigeria by 2026.
Minister of Education, Prof. Maruf Alausa, made this known during a stakeholder sensitisation meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja, which was attended by members of the National Assembly and other key education stakeholders.
WAEC had previously announced its intention to adopt CBT fully by 2026—a move that initially faced criticism. However, Alausa affirmed that the shift is a strategic effort to reform and modernise the country’s student assessment system.
He explained that the adoption of CBT would significantly reduce examination malpractice and enhance the credibility of public examinations.
“We have made a deliberate decision to transition to computer-based exams as part of our broader goal to secure the integrity of our education system. Although there was initial resistance, it became clear that continuing with the status quo was no longer sustainable,” Alausa said.
He added that administering exams at designated CBT centres would reduce malpractice and enhance the trust and credibility of Nigeria’s certification processes both locally and internationally.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is deeply committed to the education sector and firmly believes that education is the greatest legacy we can pass on to our youth. It is the most reliable tool for transforming our society, especially given Nigeria’s youthful population,” the Minister stated.
He also noted that the administration is focused on establishing a strong and inclusive education framework—one that accommodates children with special needs and provides a solid foundation for future governments to build upon.
Reinforcing the Minister’s comments, WAEC’s Head of National Office, Amos Dangut, revealed that the council began the CBT rollout with private candidates in 2024, and the transition has shown encouraging results.
Dangut confirmed that WAEC has successfully conducted CBT exams even in remote locations without disruptions, and data shows that candidates are performing better under the new system compared to the traditional format.
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