West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has given an assurance that the forthcoming Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) will be accessible to students in every part of Nigeria, regardless of location.

The examination body said that when the new model would be fully deployed in 2026, no candidate would be left out or disenfranchised on account of inadequate access to technology or infrastructure.

It maintained that deliberate measures were being put in place to guarantee inclusivity so that candidates from rural and underserved communities would enjoy the same opportunities as those in urban centres.

Head of the WAEC National Office, Dr Amos Dangut, gave the assurance yesterday in Abuja during a sensitisation session organised for members of the National Assembly Committees on Education. The engagement was aimed at enlightening lawmakers on the modalities of the CB-WASSCE and soliciting their support in addressing the challenges that could arise from its implementation.

According to Dangut, WAEC has already commenced the gradual introduction of computer-based testing with certain subjects, beginning with objective questions, before expanding the scope to include theory and practical components.

He explained that this phased approach would allow schools, teachers, and students to adjust to the new system while also giving WAEC room to identify and resolve technical or infrastructural bottlenecks.

He further revealed that extensive consultations were ongoing with state governments, school proprietors, and education stakeholders to ensure that adequate CBT centres were established countrywide.

WAEC, he added, was also working closely with the Ministry of Education and relevant agencies to ensure a stable electricity supply, provision of internet facilities, and training of personnel who would manage the centres during examinations.

Dangut reassured the lawmakers that the council was committed to equity and fairness, stressing that candidates in rural areas would not be left behind.

He noted that WAEC was mapping out centres in each local government area to minimise the distance students would have to travel, thereby reducing cost burdens on parents and guardians.

The WAEC boss urged lawmakers to lend their full support to the initiative by ensuring that budgetary provisions and oversight mechanisms are in place to fast-track the infrastructural development required for smooth implementation.

In their separate interventions, members of the National Assembly, who took turns to speak during the session, commended the initiative of introducing Computer-Based Testing (CBT) into the country’s education system, stressing that the adoption of digital tools in examinations was a welcome development and in line with global best practices.

However, they expressed strong reservations about the uneven access to technology across the country and the persistent problem of inadequate infrastructure, which, if not addressed, could undermine the success of the programme.

They proposed that the CBT model should not be rolled out for WASSCE at once. Instead, they suggested that it should be piloted first in urban centres and cities where basic facilities such as electricity, internet connectivity, and reliable computer access were more readily available. They cautioned that extending the programme immediately to rural areas that lack power supply and technological infrastructure might expose the process to major setbacks and disenfranchise students.