The Federal Government and the National Assembly have endorsed the plan by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to commence Computer-Based Testing (CBT) in 2026.

WAEC had earlier announced its intention to phase out paper-based examinations, a decision that stirred debate in some quarters.

Speaking at a sensitisation meeting with lawmakers and key stakeholders in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Prof. Maruf Alausa, said the nationwide adoption of CBT would strengthen Nigeria’s student assessment system and enhance credibility.

According to him, the Federal Government fully supports the initiative as a means of curbing examination malpractice and restoring integrity to the nation’s education sector.

 “We have undertaken to migrate public examinations to computer-based technology as a deliberate step to secure the integrity of our education system. While some initially opposed this transition, we knew that business as usual could no longer suffice,” Alausa said.

He added that designated CBT centres would drastically cut down on malpractice while boosting the local and international reputation of WAEC examinations.

The minister also reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to education, describing it as “the greatest legacy we can bequeath to our children and youth” and “the surest tool for socioeconomic transformation of our country.”

On his part, WAEC’s Head of National Office, Dr. Amos Dangut, said the transition had already commenced with private candidates in 2024, recording “significant progress.” He revealed that mock sessions and online practice platforms would be rolled out to familiarise students with the system, assuring stakeholders that no candidate would be left behind.

Dangut also dismissed concerns over infrastructure and cyber risks, noting that WAEC had successfully conducted examinations in hard-to-reach areas without disruptions. He further disclosed that candidates’ performances in CBT so far had been “empirically better” compared to paper-based tests.