By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
THE West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced a delay to the full introduction of computer-based testing (CBT) for its Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE).
The new format will now commence in 2027, a year later than the 2026 deadline initially directed by the Nigerian Federal Government.
The May/June 2026 examination will serve as a pilot, with students being offered a choice between the traditional paper-and-pen format and the new computer-based mode.
The decision was confirmed by Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, Chairman of the Nigeria National Committee (NNC) of WAEC, during her address at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the NNC in Umuahia, Abia State.
Hajia Abdulkadir, who is also a Director of Basic Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, sought to reassure students and educators.
“I want to assure that no candidate sitting the 2026 WASSCE will be disenfranchised in any form,” she stated.
She also outlined the steps WAEC is taking to ensure a smooth transition, including training senior school students in the use of tablets and digital tools for answering essay questions.
In a related matter, Hajia Abdulkadir addressed the recent review of the Basic and Secondary School Curricula.
She confirmed that no candidate would be barred from registering for subjects from different elective fields. For example, a science student would still be permitted to take Economics.
Top Students Honoured
The event also served as an awards ceremony to honour the highest-achieving candidates from the 2024 school-based May/June examination.
The national top candidate was Master Ajisafe Qoreebullah Olamilekan, a student of Eemaan Foundation College in Osogbo, Osun State.
He received the WAEC National Distinction Award after achieving a total score of 580.8535, securing A1 grades in eight subjects, including Mathematics and English Language.
He is now studying Medicine and Surgery.
He was followed by the second and third-placed students, 18-year-old Onovo Joan Eberechukwu and Master Mbah Chibukem Mac-Donald, respectively.
All three top-performing students were from private schools, and like the winner, both Joan and Chibukem are now also studying Medicine and Surgery.
WAEC also presented awards to the highest-achieving candidates with visual impairments.
Master Ugwu Christian Chiemerie and Miss Abiodun Taye Olubunmi were honoured for their exceptional results.
Leadership Commends WAEC
The Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, represented by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Chinedu Ubochi, commended WAEC for its contribution to education and its efforts to maintain the integrity of its examinations.
The Head of the National Office of WAEC Nigeria, Dr Amos Dangut, explained that the awards were instituted to encourage academic excellence and healthy competition among students across the country.
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