1.96 million candidates participate as FG commends 2026 CBT WASSCE conduct

The Federal Government has commended the smooth and credible conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), particularly lauding the successful introduction of the Computer-Based Test (CBT) model in selected examination centres across the country.

Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, Minister of State for Education, gave the commendation during an on-the-spot monitoring exercise of the examination in Abuja, where she visited Government Secondary School, Garki, and Apo Boys Secondary School.

According to a statement signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Education, the minister observed both CBT-enabled and traditional paper-and-pencil examination centres and expressed satisfaction with the overall conduct of the examinations.

She noted that candidates demonstrated discipline, preparedness and confidence across both examination formats.

At the CBT centres, Ahmad said students navigated the digital platform with ease and reported smooth examination experiences without significant technical disruptions. She added that the paper-based centres also maintained orderly and well-supervised environments, reflecting effective coordination by examination officials.

The minister disclosed that extensive pilot testing was carried out before the nationwide rollout of the CBT system. She explained that alternative power solutions, including solar-powered systems and generators, were deployed to ensure uninterrupted conduct of the examinations.

Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising the education sector, Ahmad said the transition to digital examinations would be gradual and inclusive, taking into account the varying levels of infrastructure readiness across schools nationwide.

“The Federal Government remains committed to ensuring that no student or region is left behind as we advance towards a more technology-driven examination system,” she said.

Meanwhile, Patrick Dangut, Head of National Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in Nigeria, revealed that the 2026 WASSCE recorded 1,959,636 candidates from about 29,000 schools across the country, underscoring the scale of participation in the examination exercise.

Dangut said WAEC had made adequate arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination nationwide, while maintaining the integrity and credibility of the assessment process.

The Federal Government reiterated that the ongoing transition to a fully digital examination system is being carefully managed to guarantee fairness, inclusiveness and reliability, stressing that reforms in the education sector would continue to be guided by the need to improve learning outcomes and strengthen public confidence in national examinations.