2026 WAEC: Mandatory Requirements for Schools Hosting CBT Exams Unveiled

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has rolled out strict guidelines for schools seeking to host the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) on their premises from 2026, as the body completes its transition to Computer-Based Testing (CBT).

Speaking at a sensitisation forum in Port Harcourt on Thursday, WAEC’s Head of Examinations, Mr. Lucky Njoagwuani, said schools must meet specific technical and infrastructural benchmarks or risk losing the right to conduct the exams.

According to him, each participating school must provide:

At least 250 functional laptops, with 10% additional backup,

A high-capacity server able to support 250 systems simultaneously,

A Local Area Network (LAN),

Air-conditioned halls with proper lighting,

Uninterrupted power supply, backed by a 40kVA generator (minimum),

CCTV surveillance, and

A holding/reception room for candidates.

Njoagwuani explained that the transition would reduce logistics costs, strengthen exam security, and increase accessibility for candidates.

“We started introducing CBT with the fourth series of the private candidate exam two years ago, and it has been successful. By next year, the school candidate exam will be fully computer-based with no pen-and-paper option,” he said.

Reinforcing the message, WAEC’s Port Harcourt Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Adeniran-Amusan Akim, cautioned schools to begin immediate upgrades.

“WAEC will not lower the bar. Any school unable to meet these requirements will be reassigned to designated CBT centres,” he warned.

In response, the Rivers State Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Mr. Sunday Jaja, advised school owners to explore funding opportunities through the Bank of Industry and the Federal Government’s MSME intervention fund.

“Technology is shaping modern education. This initiative will keep schools competitive and prepare students for the digital age,” Jaja noted.