Parents, students, and educators are raising their voices as fears intensify over the move by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to implement computer-based testing (CBT) for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Nigerians across the country expressed concerns over the reality on ground with regard to poor electricity supply, inadequate computers, and limited internet access and penetration, which they argue make the transition unfair.

Joseph Fehintola, from the University of Ibadan, in his research, ‘Assessment of Challenges of CBT among Students in Nigerian Educational System’, emphasised that many candidates do not have adequate skills in ICT since there is no electricity supply to many hamlets, villages and towns where majorities of these places are not connected to the electricity grid.

“Many secondary school leavers in the country are not computer literate due to the fact that there is no electricity to power computers, talk less of learning how to use computers.

“Even many teachers in the primary and secondary schools cannot boot a computer without talking of using any application. The teachers that cannot use computers, how do you expect he or she to teach computers?” Fehintola queried.

Epileptic power supply presents a major hurdle for CBT examination mode in Nigeria, hindering the smooth operation of the exercise, and impacting student performance.

Nubi Achebo, director of academic planning at Nigerian University of Technology and Management (NUTM), expressed worries that the authorities or examination council may be rushing into this decision without adequate preparation, which according to him may lead to failure.

“The move to CBT has potential benefits, addressing the existing infrastructure and accessibility challenges is crucial for a successful implementation,” he said.

As a matter of fact, Achebo insists CBT would not eliminate examination malpractice, as students can still find ways to cheat using technology.

Mary Nwankwo, a student at community secondary school in Ndeaboh in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, told BusinessDaySunday that her school does not have electricity supply, computer laboratory and the practical training to prepare students for CBT examinations.

“We don’t have computers in my school, except for those who are privileged to go for training in cyber centres; we’re not computer-compliant here.

“Those that insist on CBT exams are doing so because they are in the cities, and their children are not in public schools. Here the economic hardship is biting harder, after school on a normal day, I will either go to the farm or to the stream for water. We don’t have the basic amenities to prepare students for CBT,” she said.

Similarly, Okorie Agu, a student at Ugwueke Secondary School, in Abia State, lamented the policy, describing it as insensitive, and against the rural dwellers.

“In our school, there are no computers and digital facilities to practice with; many of us in the rural communities are marginalized computer literacy wise.

“So, I expected that the policymakers should have considered that, going CBT in WASSCE now, is a systematic design for mass failure,” he said.

Imagine a student without prior skills in computer usage, being mandated to sit the 2026 WASSCE using computers. Without such basic facilities such as electric supply and computer gadgets, among others, it would be obviously difficult for such students to excel in CBT exams.

Nigeria has about 23,550 secondary schools, which form part of a formal six-year secondary education system, divided into junior and senior secondary levels.

The use of computers in Nigerian secondary schools is not widespread, and access varies significantly between public and private schools, as well as between rural and urban areas.

Gift Osikoya, a teacher, speaking on adoption of CBT for WASSCE, said, “Many schools, particularly in rural areas, lack basic facilities such as reliable electricity and internet access, not to mention a sufficient number of computers.

“Rolling out CBT without bridging this infrastructural gap could widen educational inequality, depriving students in underserved areas.”

There is no doubt a digital divide between the students in the rural and urban areas. In Nigeria, virtually all schools in rural areas and underserved communities are struggling with limited access to technology and digital literacy.

Another challenge facing education in the country is insecurity, as Nigeria’s security situation has taken a turn for the worse, a growing number of students are becoming victims.

Conducting computer-based examinations at centralised centres poses safety concerns, especially with early morning travel requirements. It is unfortunate that Nigerians are beginning to accept insecurity as a way of life, while the government seems confused on the way out of the menace.

He encouraged the government to prioritise equipping public schools with necessary ICT tools and stable power supply, and organise large-scale digital literacy campaigns for both students and teachers.

Speaking in Abuja at the recently concluded 21st All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC), Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, noted that the state of the nation’s schools at the moment was not conducive for the CBT examination at the level of WASSCE.

Obi said: “WAEC has just announced that you can now only do WASSCE through using laptop. Hey, which secondary school has laptop here? Which secondary school? One is that the number of people in our secondary school is too low. For a country of over 230 million people, the number of people in our secondary school is supposed to be at least 30 million, but they’re under 17 million.

Yet, since they announced it, I took time. As of last week, I visited 18 schools. Where are the laptops for the WASSCE? Nowhere are the laptops for the WAEC examination. Assuming we decide to provide 15 million children laptops- not a rocket science- it’s N1.5 trillion. “Are you saying this country cannot afford it with all the waste we are throwing every year?

As the debate over digital transformation in Nigeria’s education sector continues to evolve with the planned adoption of CBT for WASSCE, stakeholders insist the country is not ready for such a major shift, though they maintain that modernisation is welcome. (BusinessDay)