The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has issued strict new guidelines for schools as it prepares to fully migrate the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to computer-based testing (CBT) by 2026. The requirements, announced during a sensitisation programme in Port Harcourt on Thursday, could redefine secondary school infrastructure across Nigeria.
According to WAEC’s Head of Examinations, Mr. Lucky Njoagwuani, schools seeking to host exams on their premises must provide at least 250 functional laptops with 10 percent backups, a robust computer server capable of handling simultaneous connections, and a reliable Local Area Network. In addition, functional air conditioning, adequate lighting, and uninterrupted electricity supply backed by a 40kVA generator are now non-negotiable.
Security and monitoring will also be central to the new system. WAEC has made CCTV installation compulsory in all exam centres, along with holding rooms or reception areas to manage candidates before exams. The Council insists that these measures will significantly reduce malpractice, cut logistics costs, and improve exam accessibility.
“We started testing CBT with our private candidate exams two years ago, and the results have been very encouraging. This year’s second series for private candidates is entirely computer-based, with no pen-and-paper option,” Njoagwuani stated. “From next year, the school candidate exams will follow suit.”
The Port Harcourt Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Adeniran-Amusan Akim, stressed that WAEC will not compromise on standards. Schools unable to meet the requirements will have their students assigned to designated centres instead. “This is the future. Any school that wants to host exams must upgrade its ICT capacity,” Akim warned.
To ease the financial burden, the Rivers State Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Mr. Sunday Jaja, advised school owners to tap into the Bank of Industry’s education funds and the Federal Government’s MSME intervention programmes. “Technology is the new driver of education. Schools must embrace it if they want to prepare students for the digital age,” he said.
Thursday’s sensitisation programme, jointly organised by Teadro Systems Ltd, NAPPS, and partners including HP, Lenovo, and Canon, ended with a raffle draw where ICT gadgets such as laptops, tablets, and printers were donated to schools.
As WAEC pushes forward with its digital agenda, stakeholders say the policy could transform Nigeria’s examination system—if schools and government step up to meet the heavy investment required.
