The Federal Government’s decision to fully transition all public secondary school examinations—WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB—from traditional paper-based tests to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) by 2026 ignits widespread debate across Nigeria. While the initiative is being hailed by some as a step towards modernization and a tool for curbing rampant examination malpractice, critics argue that the ambitious deadline is unrealistic and could deepen existing inequalities in the nation’s education system.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, who insists that the switch to CBT is inevitable if Nigeria hopes to align its education system with global digital standards. Drawing on the relative success of JAMB’s CBT model in reducing exam malpractice in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Alausa said NECO and WAEC are set to implement full CBT—objective and theory sections alike—by 2026.
However, the proposal has met resistance from education experts, teachers, student bodies, and parents who believe that the country’s current infrastructure, especially in rural and underserved areas, cannot support such a major transition within the proposed timeframe.
Dr. Solomon Udah, Executive Director of the Education Rights Initiative (ERI), described the plan as “hasty and potentially harmful.” He argued that comparing JAMB’s purely objective placement test with WAEC and NECO’s more complex achievement-based exams—which include essay components—oversimplifies the realities on the ground. “These school-based exams are valued for life and require a mastery of learning, unlike the UTME which is valid for a year. A rushed transition could be disastrous,” he warned.
Udah cited digital illiteracy, lack of electricity, poor internet connectivity, and the absence of computer labs in many rural schools as critical barriers. “Some students have never seen a computer. Many teachers aren’t digitally literate. Transitioning under these conditions is a recipe for chaos,” he said.
He recommended a phased transition approach, with pilot programs launched in selected regions, and called for the development of infrastructure, training for teachers and students, and the construction of CBT centers in each of the 774 local government areas.
Echoing similar concerns, National Vice President for Inter-Campus and Gender Affairs of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Akinbodunse Sileola Felicia, described the directive as “worrisome and troubling.” She warned that forcing a purely objective test format on foundational exams could dilute their quality and foster academic laziness. “In a country already struggling with educational standards, this move, if not carefully managed, could produce incompetent graduates,” she cautioned.
She also pointed to consistent technical issues that have plagued JAMB CBT exams, including system failures that forced some candidates to resit tests. “We cannot afford to replicate such failures at the WAEC and NECO levels. The consequences will be dire,” she said.
Mr. Adeolu Ogunbanjo, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), suggested the government delay implementation to 2027 to allow adequate preparation. He also emphasized the need for each local government to have at least one CBT center with dependable backup power systems, citing Nigeria’s erratic electricity supply.
Despite the backlash, the Federal Government remains resolute. Speaking during a pilot NECO CBT exam in Abuja, Dr. Alausa reaffirmed the 2026 deadline, disclosing that WAEC and NECO would adopt CBT for all objective exams by November 2025 and fully migrate all exam sections by the following year. “We must end this madness of exam malpractice. If we allow it to continue, it will destroy the capacity of our youth,” he declared.
To support the transition, Alausa announced that thousands of existing CBT centers—private and public—would be utilized and expanded to meet the increased demand. He insisted that schools themselves need not invest in computer infrastructure, a claim many stakeholders believe oversimplifies the challenges ahead.
NECO Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi, has expressed confidence in the council’s readiness, admitting that while infrastructure challenges remain, the agency is prepared to conduct exams via CBT. He urged state governments to step up investment in infrastructure to support the federal effort.
The President of the National Association of University Students (NAUS), Comrade Josiah Peter Oche, while commending the government’s digital drive, called for caution. “This decision is too sudden,” he said, emphasizing the need for pilot programs, stakeholder engagement, and a hybrid approach that combines digital tools with traditional methods for theory-based assessments.
As the 2026 deadline looms, one thing is clear: the Federal Government’s CBT policy has opened up a crucial national conversation about the future of Nigeria’s education system. Whether this bold initiative becomes a transformative success or another well-intentioned policy gone awry will depend heavily on the quality of planning, collaboration, and investment that follow.