FG insists on CBT for all exams over rejection of certificates abroad

– Stakeholders, NASS caution WAEC 

There has been quite a groundswell of opinions against The West Africa Examinations Council’s( WAEC), decision to migrate from paper-pencil examination mode to full computer-based testing come next year.

Among the first to express misgivings are the lawmakers in the National Assembly, who  cautioned the  examinations  body to tread carefully in its planned introduction of Computer-Based Testing for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, warning that any glitch in the 2026 roll-out could jeopardise the future of millions of Nigerian students.

However, government insistence on proceeding with the project, nonetheless, stems from the growing and appalling trend of rejecting Nigerian certificates by foreign countries, especially African countries, which is the culmination of decades of corruption in the examination process in the country.

Recall that WAEC had earlier given  assurance that the new computer-based examination would be made accessible to students in every part of the country, regardless of location or access to technology.

Head of the WAEC National Office, Dr. Amos Dangut, made the pledge about a month ago in Abuja during a sensitization session organized for members of the National Assembly Committees on Education.

He noted that a phased approach was already being executed, beginning  with objective questions before expanding to theory and practical components, to allow schools and candidates to adapt.

But  given the sensitivity of the matter, many senators and members of the House of Representatives, while lauding the initiative,  voiced  deep concerns about the country’s uneven access to technology, persistent infrastructural deficits, and low levels of digital literacy among students in rural communities.

The Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education (Basic and Secondary), Senator Ekong Sampson, cautioned  that rushing the nationwide roll-out could “create more problems than it solves.”

Similarly, Senator Victor Umeh noted  the importance of fairness and inclusivity, saying  that students must not be disadvantaged because of their backgrounds.

JAMB’s Failure

Umeh stressed that WAEC must take cognizance of the large number of candidates, adding that for a start, the CBT should be combined with the old process.

He said, “Considering the large number of our children, who will sit for the exam—more than those taking JAMB—those proposing this policy should seriously consider these issues. We must ensure our students are well-prepared.

A House of Representatives member, Oboku Oforji (Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency, Bayelsa State) also  stressed  the need for “proper groundwork” before the 2026 deadline. He specifically urged the government to establish, at least, one fully functional CBT centre in each of the 774 local government areas to bridge the digital divide.

“Such centers would ensure inclusivity, fairness, and accessibility, giving students in rural areas the same opportunities as their urban counterparts,” Oforji said.

However, in response, Dr. Dangut then, reassured the lawmakers that WAEC was committed to equity, transparency, and fairness, and stressed that the CBT model would help combat malpractice, speed up result processing, and strengthen the credibility of the examination system.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who is a firm advocate of CBT exam to curb corruption, also assured parents, teachers, and students that “no child will be left behind in this digital transition.”

But stakeholders in the education sector still have concern while lending their voices to the matter.

The National President of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Public Schools, Muhammad Musa, and the National President of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Dr. Samira Jibir, though  supported the initiative, stressed  that adequate preparation and infrastructural support were indispensable for success.

Some stakeholders noted that the directive by the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, for WAEC, NECO, and other public examination bodies to migrate fully from paper-pencil mode to computer-based examination by 2026 is a misplaced priority and should be reviewed.

Steps to Implementation

In their view, government must first solve   the challenges of inadequate infrastructure, unreliable electricity, poor Internet connectivity, poor preparation of students and teachers, and limited access to computers, especially in rural communities, before giving a nod for the implementation of such policy so as not to put some Nigerians at a disadvantage if the country is serious about fairness, equity, and balance.

The Minister, who was highly elated and upbeat that come 2026 all examinations conducted by WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB  among others, would have migrated fully from paper-pencil mode to computer-based examination, cautioned  that there would be no excuses on the implementation of the policy, which he noted would put an end to the hydra-headed monster of examination malpractice in the country.

To realize the  objective, Alausa had  set up  a high-level committee on improvement of the quality of examination in Nigeria, which has the registrar and chief executive of the Joint Administrations and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof.

Ishaq Oloyede as the chairman.

The 17-member committee after consulting  for over five months submitted its interim report to the minister, affirming the minister’s proposal of full transition to computer-based examination by 2026.

The committee members comprising experts in education and test administration offered far-reaching recommendations aimed at addressing the challenge of examination malpractice and transition to computer-based examination by 2026.

Nonetheless, the critical question about Nigeria’s readiness has continued to generate concerns by stakeholders, particularly students who are likely to be affected by the hasty implementation of the policy.

Some of the stakeholders, who spoke with  Business Hallmark, cautioned that attempt to compare selection examination conducted by JAMB – Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME)— that is purely multiple choice questions, with the final year external examination conducted by WAEC, NECO among others is wrong and would be counterproductive.

Dr. Mohammed Abubakar of The Education Rights Network, an non governmental organization devoted to the promotion of education in the North, “faulted the policy, noting that Lagos and Abuja do not represent the entirety of the country, and emphasized adequate planning.

President Trinity Old Boys Association, TOBA, Mr. Godwin  Achunine, told Business Hallmark that “government should have given five years moratorium for the execution of the initiative, they can use the four years of it for sensitization and test running before full blown implementation. As it’s now no one can predict its outcome if given teeth next year.

Different Examination Requirements

Executive Director, Education Rights Initiative (ERI), Dr. Solomon Udah, said while candidates do not need a high level of digital literacy skills to answer objective questions, it is not so with the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE). The theory or essay component of SSCE would require profound digital skills to be able to answer the questions within the allotted time and reasonably too.

This, he noted, would put students from villages and rural communities at disadvantage because of lack of exposure to computers and other digital facilities. According to him, the argument that children have phones does not hold water.

“Unfortunately, in Nigeria, most analyses of excellence performance of candidates in public examinations are usually based on candidates living in cities and towns to the exclusion of the students from rural communities, who do not have access to modern infrastructure, in this case, computers, electricity, Android phones, libraries, and above all competent teachers, who are equipped to impart necessary skills on them, including digital literacy skills needed to compete with their counterpart in cities,” he stated.

Also, speaking the President of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Audu Amba, disagreed with the Federal Government on the claims that the migration to computer-based examinations by WAEC and NECO would eliminate examination malpractices.

The NUT President pointed out that the major challenge with the nation’s education system, which is encouraging malpractices, is the priority placed on paper qualifications.

According to him, because the society only recognises certificates and grades, the students will go the extra mile, sometimes, with the support of their parents to acquire them, even when they could not defend them.

“We have placed more emphasis on certificates. What is your grade? What are your scores? Not minding the intellectual intelligence of that student,” he said

On his part, the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria, Adeolu Ogunbanjo, suggested that the Federal Government should have mandated WAEC as well as NECO to establish at least one CBT centre in each of the 774 local government areas before thinking of transition to CBT.

He warned that the policy, if implemented, would lead to mass failures, saying the examination bodies could individually or jointly set up such centres but noted that the timeline was too tight to achieve this before the 2026 deadline.

Ogunbanjo also raised concerns about erratic power supply, stressing the need for backup systems at all CBT centres.

“Next year is too soon to get this done. I would suggest shifting it to 2027. Adequate preparation is crucial to ensure that no student is left out. WAEC, NECO cannot rely on existing CBT centres used by JAMB.”

Integrity of Nigeria’s Certificates

Business Hallmark’s investigations revealed that the last West Africa Senior School Certificate examinations were highly rocked by malpractices.

Competent sources hinted that it was a concerned parent, who saw his son in possession of the leaked English Language papers that alighted WAEC authorities, leading to the discarding of the leaked papers and replacement with new set of questions.

It was this process to counter the leakage that led to the printing of new papers, which led to late conduct of the English language, making it inevitable for the paper not to drag into the night.

Reliable sources also informed Business Hallmark that some parents are often aiding and abetting cheating by compromising WAEC supervisors in collusion with schools’ proprietors and proprietresses. It was gathered that this informed why schools often charge exorbitantly, especially in private schools far above WAEC registration fees so that there will be money to compromise supervisors.

Business Hallmark’s investigations also revealed that subject experts are often on hands during examinations to provide answers to questions, which will be distributed to students.

To further compromise supervisors, most schools, especially during the day compulsory subjects are held, students contribute N2000 each to further motivate supervisors aside from the lump sums earlier given to them. This way, the school, where the examination is being conducted has a leeway to cheat to hilt without any restraint.

A school proprietor, who craved anonymity told Business Hallmark that there is corruption within WAEC system itself, saying “as far as I’m concerned no school can successfully cheat in the examinations without the cooperation of the supervisors. In my school, I have always recorded good results every year because I know my way.

A parent who refused to identify himself informed this medium that “In the last examination in the school, where I registered my son, I  paid N70,000; I know that WAEC official registration was not up to N30,000, but I was assured that it was a special center, where good marks are annually recorded. I did not regret it as my son has A1 in five subjects. I know it’s not the best, but I can’t allow my child to fail, so I joined the Joneses.

More compellingly worrisome is the integrity deficit in which foreign universities and institutions, and work places often view Nigerian certificates and degrees, due to pervasive corruption. Sources told this medium that the integrity test has become more worrisome to the Nigerian authorities, and the need to redress this national disgrace is the reason government insists on implementation of the initiative come next year.

Foreign institutions are no longer ready to accept Nigerian certificates and degrees without rigorous investigations and vetting process, even at that, these foreign institutions often conduct their own tests and examination in order to ascertain the intellectual abilities of Nigerians, who come with certificates and degrees from Nigeria.