WAEC to Introduce CBT for WASSCE: What Students Should Know

This year has seen troubling technical malfunctions in two of Nigeria’s most vital examinations—the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Earlier this year, JAMB’s Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, emotionally revealed that technical issues played a role in the disappointing performance of students. Many candidates fell into despair upon receiving results that did not reflect their hard work. A few months later, the release of the 2025 WASSCE results by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) sparked another round of outrage.

Students who were confident about their performances discovered inexplicable low grades—in some cases, they were even marked as “absent” in subjects they had actually taken. Confused parents and students voiced their frustrations once more as the credibility of the Council was called into question. The WAEC head in Nigeria, Dr. Amos Dangut, later admitted to a significant marking error regarding serialized papers, which resulted in incorrect results.

Following these incidents, the reliability of our digital examination systems has come under examination. Examination authorities influence the academic and career pathways of millions of children; any glitch—regardless of how fleeting—can ruin reputations, diminish morale, and disrupt opportunities like scholarships, university placements, and job prospects.

In spite of this backdrop, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, announced that Computer-Based Testing (CBT) will be launched for WAEC and NECO starting in November, with a complete transition from Paper–Pencil Tests to CBT for essay examinations beginning next year. While we recognize the minister’s claim that the ultimate goal is to restore the integrity of exams, reduce malpractice, create jobs, and enhance the ICT sector, the pressing question is: is Nigeria prepared?

Ensuring integrity in examinations goes beyond merely preventing cheating. It must also guarantee accuracy, security, and dependability of results. Given the recent grading controversies, the risk of completely relying on an unproven digital system for the futures of millions of students is considerable.

The reality is that Nigeria grapples with significant infrastructure challenges. Unreliable electricity means some candidates still take exams under candlelight. Widespread poor internet connectivity affects large regions of the country. Many schools lack functional computer labs, let alone the necessary bandwidth for large-scale, smooth examinations.

We are particularly concerned for students in rural regions or areas within WAEC’s jurisdiction where access to computer education remains limited. We advocate for a strong foundation of digital infrastructure to be established before implementing a nationwide approach. Without immediate and substantial investments in cyber capabilities, technical expertise, and secure facilities accessible to all candidates, a full CBT rollout could widen the educational gap between the affluent and the underprivileged—putting thousands at a disadvantage.

It would be in the public’s best interest if the minister took some time to reconsider before hastily adopting a nationwide CBT examination model.