The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad, has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), particularly at centres adopting the Computer-Based Test (CBT) format.
Speaking on Wednesday after monitoring examination centres in Abuja, Ahmad said the transition to CBT was progressing smoothly, with candidates demonstrating confidence and competence in using the digital platform.
The minister visited Government Secondary School, Garki, where candidates sat for examinations using the CBT format, and the Federal Government Boys’ College, Garki, where the traditional paper-and-pencil method was in use.
She commended the level of preparedness exhibited by students and examination officials, noting that the exercise was being conducted in an orderly and conducive environment.
According to her, candidates at the CBT centre reported no difficulties navigating the examination platform, reflecting the effectiveness of preparatory measures put in place before the rollout.
“I am impressed with the level of preparedness and the seamless conduct of the examinations. The students appear comfortable with the CBT system, and there have been no complaints regarding its operation,” she said.
At the paper-based examination centre, Ahmad also praised the orderly conduct of candidates and adherence to examination regulations.
She noted that students were adequately spaced and that there was no indication of examination malpractice during the monitoring exercise.
The minister attributed the success of the CBT implementation to extensive pilot testing carried out before its introduction, adding that the examination software had so far proven reliable and efficient.
She disclosed that candidates had already completed seven examination papers using the CBT platform without experiencing any technical disruptions.
Addressing concerns about power supply, Ahmad said adequate contingency measures had been put in place to guarantee uninterrupted examinations at CBT centres.
According to her, participating schools have been equipped with alternative energy sources, including solar power systems and standby generators, to mitigate any electricity challenges.
The minister explained that only schools with functional Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities and sufficient computer infrastructure were selected as CBT examination centres.
She added that many schools adopted multiple examination streams to accommodate the large number of candidates participating in the exercise.
Ahmad recalled that the Federal Government initially targeted a full transition to computer-based examinations in 2026 but opted for a phased implementation strategy due to infrastructural limitations in some parts of the country.
She revealed that the government is collaborating with state governments and investing in facilities across federal unity colleges to expand CBT infrastructure nationwide.
While reaffirming the government's commitment to digitising public examinations, the minister said a definite timeline for complete migration to CBT cannot be established until adequate infrastructure is available across all regions of the country.
The ongoing WASSCE marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s gradual transition toward technology-driven assessment systems aimed at improving examination integrity, efficiency and accessibility.
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