Accredited secondary schools in Nigeria are projected to spend about N1.6 trillion on computers to meet the West African Examinations Council (WAEC)’s requirement for mandatory Computer-Based Testing (CBT) approval of centres for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
WAEC has directed that every school must provide at least 250 functional computer systems, a robust server, a local area network, CCTV cameras, and other essential infrastructure before being approved as a CBT centre for the 2025 WASSCE.
WAEC explained in a statement that the measure is part of its comprehensive migration to CBT for all candidates, with a timeline for full implementation. “Schools that cannot meet these standards will be assigned to designated external centres, and WAEC will not lower its standards for hosting schools,” the council stated.
A fairly used desktop computer imported from the United Kingdom and sold at the Computer Village, Ikeja-Lagos, costs between N250,000 and N300,000. Based on this, a school would require between N62.5 million and N75 million to acquire 250 desktops, excluding other mandatory accessories. Analysts adopted a mid-range of N68 million for estimates. With 23,554 approved WASSCE secondary school centres in Nigeria, and assuming no school currently meets the requirement, the total cost is projected at about N1.6 trillion.
Some stakeholders have raised concerns over the feasibility of the directive. Teacher Gift Osikoya warned that while urban schools may adjust faster, rural institutions will struggle. “Two hundred and fifty systems are not a small investment. Beyond the purchasing costs, schools would face the challenges of a constant power supply, internet, maintenance, and security risk. For many schools, especially public ones, this is almost unrealistic without government subsidy or partnership with the private sector,” she said.
Education administrator Isaiah Ogundele argued that the timeline is rushed and noted that very few schools can meet the requirements. “For this project to be effective, the federal and state governments’ secondary schools should have been equipped with laptops, electricity and internet facilities. There should have been enough time for schools, especially those in the rural areas, to prepare,” he said. Ogundele added that some rural students must cross rivers or walk through forests to reach school, pointing out that WASSCE runs for three to four weeks.
Jessica Osuere, chief executive officer of RubiesHub Educational Services, applauded WAEC’s initiative as beneficial for examination integrity but cautioned that compliance by 2026 would be difficult. “A gradual rollout with support and partnerships will make it more achievable. Anything apart from that will be like chasing shadows,” she said.
Teacher Chris Nmeribe criticised the policy as unrealistic, saying, “It’s really laughable when you think of the ‘herculean’ conditions regulators impose on people in Nigeria. The time frame, cost and maintenance make it untenable for most schools aspiring to comply.”
Educationist Ike Osuagwu-Chilaka acknowledged the benefits of having 250 computers in schools but insisted the requirement is unachievable within the current timeframe. “Costs will definitely be transferred to parents, which may increase the number of school dropouts,” he said.
The policy has drawn comparisons with the UK, where GCSE examinations remain largely paper-based. The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is only planning partial adoption of digital examinations by 2030, beginning with the reading and listening sections of GCSE Italian and Polish in 2026, subject to approval. The UK awarding body maintains that paper-based tests are still useful for assessing GCSE and A-level students.
Nigeria’s situation is further complicated by a wide digital literacy gap. The Universal Basic Education Commission reports that 50 percent of public schools lack digital facilities. Only 36 percent of Nigerians use the internet, while 78 percent of young people lack digital literacy skills.
Osikoya suggested that WAEC should consider establishing designated CBT centres, similar to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) approach for UTME. “Schools without enough computers can book slots for their students in these accredited centres. This reduces cost and ensures fairness,” she said. Nmeribe also called for a cost-sharing system where WAEC absorbs part of the financial burden while sharing the benefits with schools.
