The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to halt the plan by the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, to implement Computer-Based Testing, CBT, for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, warning that the initiative could trigger widespread academic failure, psychological distress, and even fatalities among students.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance presented by Hon. Kelechi Nworgu on Thursday, who called for immediate intervention to prevent what he described as an impending crisis in education.

Speaking on the motion, Nworgu acknowledged that while CBT has been successfully utilised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, the current state of most secondary schools in Nigeria renders such a shift premature for WAEC exams in 2026.

He stressed that the Federal Ministry of Education’s plan to conduct the 2026 WASSCE via CBT, despite objections from the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, and school principals, would place millions of students at a significant disadvantage, particularly those in rural communities who lack computers, stable electricity, and internet connectivity.

“Most of the over 25,500 schools across the country, especially in rural areas, do not have functional computers or qualified computer teachers.

“Many students have never used a computer before, yet they are being compelled to take up to nine subjects, including theory and practical exams, through CBT,” he said.

Nworgu warned that the initiative is being rushed without sufficient groundwork and cautioned that its fallout could be severe, potentially resulting in mass failure, frustration, drug abuse, and other social ills among young people.

He recommended that WAEC and the Ministry of Education postpone the CBT rollout for at least three years, suggesting a more feasible implementation period around the 2029–2030 academic session, after necessary infrastructure and training have been established.

In response, the House directed WAEC and the Ministry of Education to immediately suspend the planned CBT initiative.

It urged the government to allocate funds from the 2026 budget for hiring computer teachers, constructing computer labs with internet access, and installing standby generators in schools nationwide.

The House also tasked its Committees on Basic Examination Bodies, Digital and Information Technology, Basic Education and Services, and Labour, Employment and Productivity to engage stakeholders in the education and technology sectors and submit a report within four weeks to guide further legislative measures.