Oyo State to Buy 60,000 Laptops as WAEC Begins CBT Transition
The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its readiness to begin the official transition of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) in public schools.
This move follows the Federal Government’s directive for a gradual shift from the traditional pen-and-paper examination to digital testing across the country.
According to the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Olusegun Olayiwola, Governor Seyi Makinde has approved plans to work out the cost for the procurement of over 60,000 laptops for public senior secondary schools in Oyo State.
Why This Matters to Students and Schools
The initiative is designed to prepare public schools ahead of the full adoption of CBT examinations by WAEC. It will help:
Improve students’ digital and computer skills
Reduce delays and errors associated with manual exams
Better position public school students to compete with their private-school counterparts
Strengthen exam integrity and supervision
The Commissioner also praised WAEC for addressing challenges recorded during the 2025 examinations and assured the ministry’s support in tackling examination malpractice and protecting school facilities.
WAEC Explains How 2026 Exams Will Work
The Zonal Coordinator and Deputy Registrar of WAEC, Mr. Waheed Amode, confirmed that registration for the 2026 May/June WAEC examination closed on February 2, 2026.
He explained that the 2026 examinations will be conducted using both CBT and pen-and-paper methods, depending on how prepared each school is.
How Schools and Students Can Be Part of It
To fully participate in the CBT mode:
Schools that are ready must formally notify WAEC in writing to indicate interest in full CBT participation.
School principals should ensure their ICT facilities, power supply and exam halls meet basic CBT standards.
Students should begin preparing by improving their computer literacy, especially typing and navigating digital systems.
“Governor Seyi Makinde has directed that the cost implications for the procurement of over 60,000 laptops for public senior secondary schools across the state be worked out.” – Olusegun Olayiwola, Commissioner for Education.
Mr. Amode also warned that candidates caught with mobile phones in exam halls may face severe penalties, including possible cancellation of an entire school’s results.
Oyo State’s plan to procure 60,000 laptops marks a major step toward modernising public education and preparing students for digital examinations. Schools that act early and students who improve their computer skills will be best positioned to benefit from the new WAEC CBT system.
