WAEC’s New CBT Policy May Cost Nigerian Secondary Schools ₦1.6 Trillion in Computer Upgrades Ahead of 2025 WASSCE
Story: Written by Daniel September 22,2025
Nigeria’s accredited secondary schools could collectively spend an estimated ₦1.6 trillion on digital infrastructure to meet the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) requirement for full migration to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) ahead of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
WAEC has directed that every approved school must possess at least 250 functional computers, a reliable server, CCTV surveillance, a local area network, and other key facilities to qualify as a CBT examination centre. Schools unable to meet this threshold will be excluded from hosting the exam and reassigned to external centres.
According to market estimates, a fairly used desktop computer sold at Lagos’ Computer Village currently costs between ₦250,000 and ₦300,000. This translates to an average of ₦68 million per school to meet the minimum hardware benchmark. With Nigeria hosting 23,554 approved WASSCE centres, the cumulative expenditure for compliance could soar to around ₦1.6 trillion, excluding power, internet, and maintenance costs.
Mixed reactions from stakeholders
While WAEC argues the policy will enhance examination integrity and eliminate malpractice, many educators believe the timeline is unrealistic given Nigeria’s economic climate.
Gift Osikoya, a Lagos-based teacher, warned that rural schools face exclusion:
“Two hundred and fifty computers is no small investment. Beyond procurement, schools must grapple with epileptic power supply, poor internet access, and maintenance risks.”
Jessica Osuere, CEO of RubiesHub Educational Services, acknowledged the benefits of CBT but urged WAEC to consider a phased rollout with government and private sector support.
“Anything short of gradual implementation will only deepen inequality,” she noted.
Other educators such as Chris Nmeribe and Ike Osuagwu-Chilaka criticised the directive as impractical, arguing that costs will eventually be pushed onto parents, thereby risking higher dropout rates.
Global comparison
Critics have also questioned why Nigeria is rushing into full-scale CBT adoption when even advanced nations are proceeding cautiously. In the United Kingdom, for instance, students still sit their GCSEs on paper. The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) has proposed introducing partial digital testing in 2030, beginning with Italian and Polish language exams in 2026.
Digital literacy challenge
The push for digital examinations comes amid Nigeria’s widening digital literacy gap. According to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC):
- 50% of public schools lack any digital infrastructure.
- Only 36% of Nigerians actively use the internet.
- 78% of young people lack basic ICT skills.
These statistics raise concerns that a nationwide CBT mandate could deepen educational inequality between urban and rural areas, as well as between public and private schools.
The way forward
Education experts suggest a more flexible model. Osikoya recommends that WAEC establish centralised CBT centres, similar to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) model for UTME. This would allow schools to book slots for their students without shouldering the full financial burden.
Nmeribe further proposed a cost-sharing approach, where WAEC and government agencies subsidise part of the infrastructure investment.
Unless adjustments are made, WAEC’s ambitious CBT transition could risk excluding thousands of schools, worsening educational inequality, and shifting heavy costs onto struggling parents.
