00:00The House of Representatives has called for a pause in Nigeria's plan to introduce computer-based testing, otherwise known as CBT, for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination.
00:14The lawmaker says the country is not yet ready for such a major shift in how students take their exams.
00:21The budget needs for intervention to avoid the pending massive failure of candidates intending to write the 2026 West African Examination Council, WIAC, using computer-based examination, CBT, capable of causing depression and death of students.
00:41The House notes that the West African Examination Council, WIAC, is a body saddled with the conduct of higher education entry-qualifier examination for students of similar secondary schools.
00:54The House notes that higher education institutions have made it mandatory for any candidate seeking admission to have at least five credits, including English and Mathematics, in the West African Examination Council, WIAC.
01:10The House for that knows that the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination Result Portal was shut down due to what they call technical glitches, with the candidates suffering the consequences.
01:27CBT was first introduced by the West African Examination Council in Nigeria as a way to modernize examinations, improve efficiency, and reduce examination malpractice.
01:39Other countries in West Africa such as Ghana and Syria alone have successfully adopted computer-based exams in recent years, prompting Nigeria to follow suit.
01:50However, concerns have emerged over inadequate preparation, poor infrastructure, and the risk of widespread failure if CBT is rolled out too quickly.
02:01The House says that computer-based examination requires fully furnished with functional computers, internet facilities, constant electricity supply, be it from the national grid or standby generator.
02:16Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, the House is aware that about 25,500 schools across the country have candidate to write the 2026 examination expected to be conducted in all the schools at the same time for four months, starting from March to July.
02:34In response, the House has directed the Federal Ministry of Education and Wayegg to suspend CBT until 2030, giving schools, students, and teachers ample time to prepare.
02:49Lawmakers also urged the Ministry and State Government to allocate funds in 2026 to 2029 budgets.
02:57The Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with the state to include in the 2026 budgets 2027, 2028, and 2029, a recruitment of computer teachers, construction of computer halls with internet facilities, and supply of standby generators, and also monitor adequate provisions in private schools before commencement of the policy in 2030.
03:25This fund would cover the recruitment of computer teachers, the construction of computer halls with internet access, standby generators, and assessment of private school readiness for CBT.
03:38The resolution follows a motion of urgent public importance, emphasizing that student welfare should remain a top priority in any educational reform.
03:49Concerned that the outcome of the outcome of the wayegg result of students who are considered to be leaders of tomorrow using CBE will be devastating if allowed to commence, leading to massive failure, frustration, drug abuse, and other social vices.
04:06The House of Representatives is present for a careful and well-prepared shift to computer-based exams.
04:29The goal is to ensure that when CBT is finally implemented in 2030, students, schools, and teachers are fully ready to embrace a modern, reliable, and efficient examination system.
04:44Finally, Mr. Speaker, mandate the committees on basic examination bodies, digital and information technology, basic education and services, and level employment and productivity to interface with the relevant stakeholders in the education, information, and technology sectors, and report back within four weeks.
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