The House of Representatives has hit the brakes on plans to roll out Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the 2026 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE), warning it could trigger mass failure and serious mental health issues among students.
The directive, issued Thursday during an emergency debate, orders the Federal Ministry of Education and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to halt the CBT plan immediately.
The motion, brought by Kelechi Wogu (PDP, Rivers), painted a grim picture: most Nigerian schools, public and private, simply don’t have the computers, internet, or trained teachers needed to pull this off.
Forcing students to take the exam on computers in 2026, he argued, could lead to widespread failure, frustration, depression, and even drug abuse.
Lawmakers were clear: no CBT until every school has what it needs.
They’ve mandated the Ministry of Education to work with state governments to hire computer teachers, build ICT labs with reliable internet, and install backup generators.
All of this must be budgeted from 2026 through 2029, with the CBT rollout pushed back to 2030.
Wogu reminded the House that WAEC is the gateway exam for university admission, students need at least five credits, including English and Math.
He pointed out that this year’s WAEC results portal had already crashed due to technical issues, adding to parents’ and students’ anxiety.
He also noted that the Ministry is pushing ahead despite strong pushback from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), school principals, and education stakeholders, especially those in rural areas, where over 70% of Nigerian students live.
The reality on the ground is sobering. Over 25,500 schools register WAEC candidates every year, but many don’t have computer labs, working desktops, trained ICT staff, or any experience with digital testing.
And unlike JAMB, WAEC covers nine subjects with theory, objectives, and practicals, making the logistics far more complicated.
“If we force this now, we’re setting our students up to fail,” Wogu warned.
The House unanimously agreed and extended the order to private schools as well. No one moves forward with CBT until the infrastructure is in place.
The House also directed four of its committees, covering examination bodies, digital tech, basic education, and labour, to meet with stakeholders and report back within four weeks.
