The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has intensified preparations for the full implementation of the Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) for school candidates, setting the May/June 2026 diet as the definitive deadline for the digital migration.
The transition, which moves the examination from the traditional paper-pencil format to Computer-Based Testing (CBT), is a directive from the Federal Government aimed at modernizing the assessment system and combating examination malpractice.
Full Readiness Assured
Head of the WAEC National Office, Dr. Amos Dangut, gave firm assurance that the body is prepared to handle the logistics of the nationwide digital shift, even addressing concerns about connectivity and remote areas.
During a sensitization session, Dangut declared WAEC’s confidence in the transition, stating: “We are masters of the game. Every candidate who registers for CB-WASSCE 2026 will write their exam, whether onshore or offshore, whether in the United Kingdom or anywhere else. CB-WASSCE is the way to go; it is the future of examinations.”
He added that the transition, which began with private candidates in 2024, has already recorded “significant progress” and would be scaled up nationwide. The transition is part of a broader strategy to modernize assessment systems and integrate technology into every stage of examination management.
Lawmakers Express Concerns
Despite WAEC’s assurances, members of the National Assembly Committee on Education have cautioned the body to tread carefully. Lawmakers, while commending the initiative, expressed concerns over the nation’s readiness, pointing to:
Uneven access to technology. Persistent infrastructural deficits (especially reliable electricity and internet). Low levels of digital literacy among students in rural communities.
They collectively emphasized that WAEC must avoid a rushed nationwide rollout that could risk glitches and marginalize rural students.
Responding to these fears, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, assured that the migration would align WAEC and NECO with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) model, utilizing accredited CBT centres nationwide to “eliminate exam malpractices.”
The Head of Public Affairs, WAEC National Office, Moyosola Adesina, also disclosed that private candidates sitting for the November 2025 WASSCE will, from Friday, be able to access the portal to test-run the new exam system, as WAEC moves towards the final 2026 deadline.
