The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has officially announced a major shift in its digital examination timeline, pushing the full adoption of the Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode for the Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) to the year 2027.
New Timeline and Pilot Phase for 2026
This decision represents a one-year delay from the initial 2026 target. However, the council has outlined a crucial pilot phase. The May/June 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) will serve as a large-scale test run. For this specific examination, candidates will be given a choice between the new CBT format and the traditional paper-and-pen method, ensuring no student is forced into the digital format prematurely.
Official Announcement and Stakeholder Assurance
The update was formally delivered by Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, the Chairman of the Nigeria National Committee (NNC) of WAEC, during the 63rd Annual Meeting of the NNC. The NNC is the highest decision-making body for WAEC operations within Nigeria.
Hajia Abdulkadir directly addressed concerns from parents, students, and schools regarding the government's earlier directive for a full CBT migration by 2026. She offered a firm assurance, stating, "I want to assure that no candidate sitting the 2026 WASSCE will be disenfranchised in any form."
Preparation Efforts and Curriculum Updates
To ensure a smooth eventual transition, WAEC has already begun preparatory work. The chairman detailed some of these initiatives, which include training senior school students and conducting pilot tests that involve using tablets and digital pens to tackle essay questions on a computer.
In related news, Hajia Abdulkadir also clarified matters concerning the recently reviewed Basic and Secondary School Curricula. She confirmed that the new curriculum does not restrict students from registering for subjects across different elective fields. Science students are explicitly permitted to take Economics as an elective to complete their subject selection.
Furthermore, to accommodate these changes, the council has extended the period for uploading Continuous Assessment Scores (CASS). This extension is designed to ensure the accurate capture of CASS for all candidates, including those who need to take new subjects aligned with the Federal Government's approved list for the 2026 WASSCE for School Candidates.
