The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has unveiled essential infrastructure schools must have in place ahead of the full transition of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to computer-based testing (CBT) by 2026.
Speaking at a sensitisation programme in Port Harcourt on Thursday, WAEC’s Head of Examinations, Mr. Lucky Njoagwuani, stated that schools must provide a minimum of 250 functional laptops, with an additional 10 percent in backups, a robust server capable of supporting all systems concurrently, and a Local Area Network (LAN) setup.
Other mandatory facilities include functional air conditioning and adequate lighting, uninterrupted power supply, a backup generator of at least 40kVA, CCTV cameras, and a holding or reception area for candidates.
Njoagwuani noted that the CBT model would significantly reduce logistics costs, enhance exam security, and increase accessibility.
“We began this journey with the fourth series of the private candidate exam two years ago, which was successful,” he said. “This year’s second series for private candidates is fully computer-based, with no paper option. By next year, the school candidates’ exams will also go fully CBT.”
WAEC’s Port Harcourt Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Adeniran-Amusan Akim, urged schools to begin upgrading their ICT infrastructure to meet the council’s standards, emphasizing that CBT is now a permanent shift.
“WAEC will not compromise its standards. Schools wishing to host exams on their premises must meet all the requirements,” Akim said, adding that non-compliant schools would be assigned to approved CBT centres.
Also present at the event, Rivers State Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Mr. Sunday Jaja, encouraged school owners to explore funding support from the Bank of Industry and the Federal Government’s MSME intervention fund to finance the required upgrades.
“Technology is transforming education. This initiative helps schools align with global trends and prepares students for the digital future,” Jaja said.
The sensitisation programme was jointly organised by Teadro Systems Ltd, NAPPS, and key partners, including the Bank of Industry, HP, Lenovo, and Canon.
The event concluded with a raffle draw, through which participating schools received ICT equipment, including computers, printers, and tablets.
