The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to suspend plans to introduce Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Lawmakers warned that the proposed policy, if implemented without adequate preparation, could lead to mass failure, depression, and even deaths among students.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Kelechi Nworgu during Thursday’s plenary.
Nworgu described the planned transition to CBT as ill-timed and potentially disastrous, considering the poor state of infrastructure in most secondary schools across the country.
He noted that although the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has successfully adopted CBT for its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the situation in secondary schools is markedly different, especially in rural areas where access to computers, electricity, and internet connectivity remains poor.
“Out of over 25,500 secondary schools across Nigeria, most, particularly those in rural areas, lack functional computers and qualified computer teachers. Many students have never operated a computer before, yet they are expected to take up to nine subjects, including theory and practical exams, through CBT,” he said.
The lawmaker warned that rushing the policy could trigger widespread failure, frustration, and social problems such as drug abuse and depression among young people.
Nworgu therefore called for the deferment of the plan for at least three years, suggesting that full implementation of CBT should begin between the 2029 and 2030 academic sessions, after adequate infrastructure and capacity have been developed.
Following deliberations, the House directed WAEC and the Federal Ministry of Education to immediately suspend all preparations for the 2026 CBT-based examination.
It also urged the Federal Government to, beginning from the 2026 budget cycle, make provisions for the recruitment of qualified computer science teachers, construction of computer laboratories with internet access, and installation of standby generators in schools nationwide.
The House further mandated its Committees on Basic Examination Bodies, Digital and Information Technology, Basic Education and Services, and Labour, Employment and Productivity to interface with relevant stakeholders in the education and technology sectors and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
