The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has
reaffirmed that the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination
(WASSCE) will be conducted entirely through computer-based testing (CBT).
The move, WAEC says, is part of its strategy to curb examination malpractice
and embrace digital innovation.
Speaking on Tuesday, WAEC’s Head of National Office, Dr.
Amos Dangut, said the transition had already begun with private candidates
who sat for the November/December WASSCE in 2024. He noted that progress so far
has been encouraging, with candidates performing “empirically better” on CBT
than in traditional paper-based exams.
“We have conducted five exams already—one for private
candidates and one for school candidates—and by 2026, deployment will be
massive,” Dangut assured.
Government Alignment
The announcement comes after the Federal Government
revealed that both WAEC and NECO will transition fully to CBT by the May/June
2026 examinations. Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa said the
shift would align the SSCE with the model already in use by the Joint
Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
“By 2026, all essays and objective exams will be CBT.
NECO and WAEC will be joining the league of JAMB. We are making significant
progress,” Alausa said in July.
WAEC’s Journey to CBT
WAEC first introduced CBT in 2024 for the WASSCE for
Private Candidates, using a hybrid model—objective questions were taken
on-screen, while essays and practicals remained on paper. In 2025, school
candidates were given the choice between CBT and paper-based formats, marking
the start of the nationwide transition.
Both WAEC and NECO will continue hybrid rollouts for
private candidates in 2025 before moving to full CBT in 2026.
Questions on Readiness
While the shift promises faster result processing and
reduced malpractice, concerns remain about Nigeria’s infrastructure.
“Let’s be real—it’s not just about uploading questions
to a computer. Infrastructure is the real test. Many public schools still lack
working computers or reliable electricity. And JAMB centres already struggle
during peak season; demand will triple with WAEC and NECO onboard,” education
analyst Folaranmi Ajayi told Technext in August.
The Education Minister, however, reassured that
thousands of accredited CBT centres used by JAMB would also serve WAEC and NECO
candidates. “We have enough centres, but we also need to expand their capacity.
These facilities should not serve JAMB alone,” he said.
Looking Ahead
WAEC has about a year to fine-tune logistics ahead of
the full switch. The 2025 private candidates’ CBT exams will serve as a
critical test-run before the nationwide rollout.
If successful, the 2026 WASSCE will mark a historic
shift in West Africa’s education sector, positioning CBT as the new standard
for large-scale examinations.
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