The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has shifted the commencement of its Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) in full computer-based (CBT) mode to 2027, rather than 2026, as previously directed by the Federal Government.

The 2026 May/June WASSCE will still be a test run pilot of the full-CBT format, with students having the option of sitting for their papers in either CBT or paper-and-pen format.

The Chairman of Nigeria National Committee (NNC) of WAEC, who is the Federal Government’s Nominee, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, gave the hint on Thursday at the opening session of this year’s Annual Meeting of NNC (63rd edition) in Umuahia, Abia State.

NNC is the highest decision-making organ of WAEC for Nigeria, and the committee comprises virtually all the education stakeholders in the country. Members meet once annually on a rotational basis among the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

Abdulkadir, who is also a Director of Basic Education, Federal Ministry of Education, stated that NEC WAEC is aware of the concerns that the federal government directives to the examination bodies to migrate to full-CBT by 2026 have been raised among the stakeholders.

“So, I want to assure that no candidate sitting the 2026 WASSCE will be disenfranchised in any form,” she stressed.

Hajia Abdukadir explained some of the recent efforts made by WAEC towards smooth migration to full-CBT mode, including the training of senior school students on the pilot test of the use of tablets and digital style in responding to Essay Questions on a computer, among others.

Speaking on the recent review of the Basic and Secondary School Curricula, she assured that no candidate would also be restricted from registering subjects from other subject groups or distinct elective fields.

Specifically, she said: “Science students are not barred from taking Economics as an elective to complete their subject selection even as the period for Continuous Assessment Scores (CASS) uploading has been extended for accurate capturing of CASS for candidates, who must take new subjects in line with the Federal Government’s approved list for the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2026.”

Meanwhile, WAEC honoured the top three candidates in its 2024 school-based May\ June exam and the two overall best special students, who are visually impaired, and some other category winners, also at the event.

Master Ajisafe Qoreebullah Olamilekan, a student of Eemaan Foundation College, Osogbo, Osun State, was the overall best in the exam nationwide and was honoured with the WAEC’s National Distinction Award

Ajisafe, who is the first born of his parents, and with a total score of 580.8535 in the exam had A1s in eight subjects including General Mathematics and English Language.

He is already studying Medicine and Surgery at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila orangun, Osu State.

He was accompanied to the ceremony by his parents, Mr and Mrs Ajisafe.

The second and third overall best students in the exam, who are 18- year-old Onovo Joan Eberechukwu and Master Mbah Chibukem Mac-Donald, respectively were also honoured with the distinction merit award at the event for their excellence performances.

Interestingly, all the top three are from private schools.

Also, both Joan and Chibukem, just like the Qoreebullah, who was an overall best, are studying Medicine and Surgery in the university. Joan is in the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Akoka while Chibukem is a student of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD).

Similarly, WAEC also honoured and rewarded the best male and female candidates who are special students in the exam. They are Master 23- year- old Ugwu Christian Chiemerie and Miss Abiodun Taye Olubunmi.

While Christian who passed out from College of Immaculate Conception, Uwani, Enugu State had a total score of 413.5326 in the exam, Taye, a student of Queen’s College, Lagos, had a total score of 429.1543. Also, while Christian is currently studying Law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Taye is in University of Ilorin studying Guidance and Counselling.

Speaking at the event, Abia State governor, Alex Otti, commended WAEC for its strong contribution to the development of education in the country and the conduct of credible examinations.

Otti, represented by the state’s Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Chinedu Ubochi, said Abia State would continue to support the examination body in any way possible.

He particularly acknowledged WAEC for its proactive steps in strengthening the credibility of the exam, especially by introducing policies to curb malpractice and also protect the integrity of assessment processes across the country.

He said the measures are “timely, courageous and essential to safeguard the future of our young ones.”

Earlier, in his address, the Head of National Office of WAEC Nigeria, Dr Amos Dangut, said the organisation instituted the various category awards to encourage excellence and healthy competition among students and schools across the country.

He noted that the initiative had yielded tremendous results even as he congratulated all the award winners, their schools and parents.

He urged them not to rest on their oars but to work harder as they advance in their academic pursuits.

Hajia Abdulkadir commended all the awardees, urging them to keep striving in their studies and other endeavours.

She said the Federal Government would continue to support WAEC in its mandate and also ensure that Nigerian students are globally competitive. (Nigerian Tribune)