NUT Slams 2026 CBT Mandate for WAEC, NECO

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has raised serious concerns regarding the Federal Government’s recent directive mandating the complete adoption of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) assessments by the year 2026.

Speaking during an interview in Abuja, the NUT National President, Comrade Audu Amba, expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the transition to CBT as a strategy to curb examination malpractice. He argued that switching to digital testing will not address the root causes of academic dishonesty in the country’s education system.

According to Amba, the primary driver of examination malpractice is society’s excessive obsession with paper qualifications and certificate acquisition, rather than genuine intellectual development.

He lamented that in Nigeria, too much importance is placed on grades and certificates, often at the expense of assessing a student’s actual knowledge, skills, or critical thinking ability.

“We have placed undue emphasis on certification,” Amba said. “What grade did you make? What are your scores? No one is asking whether the student truly understands what they studied or whether they can apply that knowledge. This pressure encourages students—and in some cases, even their parents—to resort to unethical practices in a bid to secure certificates they cannot defend.”

Beyond the philosophical and ethical issues, Amba also highlighted practical challenges that cast doubt on the feasibility of implementing CBT exams across the country. He raised concerns over infrastructure deficits in many parts of Nigeria, particularly in rural areas where access to basic resources such as electricity, internet connectivity, and ICT-literate personnel remains extremely limited.

“We are talking about implementing computer-based exams. But where is the electricity? Where is the network coverage? Where is the manpower to support this system?” he asked rhetorically. “You can’t sit in urban centers and hand down policies that are practically impossible to implement in local communities.”

Using his own community as an example, Amba noted that there are areas where network service is either erratic or entirely unavailable. He added that in many villages, students have never even seen a computer, let alone operated one. This digital divide, he argued, would put many students at a severe disadvantage if CBT becomes the standard examination mode.

Furthermore, the NUT president took the opportunity to address the persistent neglect and marginalisation of teachers in Nigeria, particularly those at the primary school level. He described teachers as one of the most overlooked professional groups in the country, despite playing a critical role in shaping the nation’s human capital.

“Teachers in this country are the most disregarded professionals,” Amba stated. “While other sectors receive considerable government attention, teachers—especially those in primary schools—continue to be ignored.”

To illustrate this point, he cited the ongoing strike by primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who have downed tools multiple times over the government’s failure to implement a N70,000 minimum wage, which has already been extended to other civil servants in the territory.

“It’s disheartening. This is the fourth time FCT primary school teachers have embarked on strike action over the same issue. These are the same people who taught many of those now holding positions of power—yet today, those same leaders undermine and undervalue the teaching profession.”

Amba emphasized that teachers are subject to the same economic pressures as other Nigerians. “We go to the same markets, live in the same communities, pay the same rent, and seek medical care from the same hospitals. Why then are teachers treated differently?”

He called on the Federal Government to urgently prioritize funding and reforms in basic education, describing it as the foundation upon which the rest of the educational system is built.

In January, the Federal Government had announced its intention to shift WAEC and NECO examinations to a fully CBT format starting from the May/June 2026 examination cycle. According to the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the CBT implementation will begin with objective (multiple-choice) questions as early as November 2025. By 2026, both objective and essay components of the exams are expected to be fully computer-based.

Dr. Alausa had explained that the primary aim of the transition was to eradicate examination malpractice and modernize the assessment process in line with global best practices.

However, the NUT insists that without addressing deeper systemic issues—such as poor infrastructure, overemphasis on certification, and the marginalization of educators—the shift to CBT alone is unlikely to achieve its intended goals.