The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) have disclosed plans to adopt Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) starting from 2026, following a directive from the Federal Government.
This was revealed during the May edition of the Education Dialogue, an online forum organised by the Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (EWAN), held on Thursday.
The Head of National Office of WAEC, Dr. Amos Dangut; the Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi; and the Director of Basic and Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, were panelists at the event, which was attended by over 90 education journalists, scholars and stakeholders.
Dr. Dangut and Prof. Wushishi affirmed the readiness of their organisations to implement the CBT format, which they described as a step in the right direction for the country’s education sector in the 21st century.
While acknowledging current challenges such as inadequate ICT infrastructure and low computer literacy in many schools, they maintained that the transition is necessary and inevitable.
Dangut explained that some candidates are already writing the ongoing May/June WAEC exams using CBT in select centres. He added that any initial challenges with the system would be easier to address than problems encountered under the traditional pen-and-paper format, noting that CBT also helps to curb examination malpractice.
Responding to concerns about infrastructure deficits in schools, Prof. Wushishi said NECO will adopt a hybrid approach by using accredited CBT centres operated by private and public institutions, similar to the model used by JAMB.
He noted that while most schools lack the equipment to conduct large-scale CBT exams, those with suitable facilities would be used as centres. He added that NECO would begin the CBT mode this year with private candidates sitting for the November/December SSCE, which typically has a lower number of candidates compared to the over 1.3 million candidates for the school-based exam.
“Our long-term plan was to begin the CBT transition by 2027, but the Federal Government has fast-tracked the process. We must now work with what we have and grow gradually,” Wushishi said.
On her part, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir stressed that CBT is the future of assessments in Nigeria and must be embraced by all. She urged stakeholders to make the most of available resources to support the digital transition.
She recalled that WAEC had already piloted CBT for private candidates last year, with NECO set to follow suit this year, expressing confidence in a successful nationwide rollout.
Earlier in his welcome address, EWAN Chairman, Mr. Mojeed Alabi, decried the challenges facing the education sector, especially in the conduct of external exams. He said Nigeria must stop paying lip service to education if it wants sustainable economic development.
Alabi added that the purpose of the forum was to evaluate Nigeria’s true readiness for a full switch to CBT examinations.
