WAEC Extends 2026 WASSCE Registration To March 13

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has extended the registration deadline for the 2026 computer-based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to March 13, giving candidates additional time to resolve outstanding application issues.

The Council announced the extension in a statement shared on X, noting that the decision was approved by education minister Tunji Alausa, to ensure all prospective candidates complete their registrations.

According to the council, the new deadline, now set for March 13, 2026, is final, and no further extension will be granted.

Officials urged candidates and school administrators to take advantage of the extra time to address any pending registration challenges, including verification issues and incomplete documentation.

The move followed the council’s broader transition toward computer-based examinations, a reform first announced in September 2025.

The education minister said the shift to CBT would strengthen assessment integrity and reduce examination malpractice by leveraging digital systems for student evaluations.

As part of the digital transformation, the council has also launched the WAEC DigiCert platform, a mobile and web-based service that allows candidates to access digital copies of their certificates, verify results, and recover lost examination numbers.

Officials say the system enhances convenience for stakeholders while safeguarding the authenticity of academic credentials.

Education stakeholders have welcomed the deadline extension, arguing that it will help candidates who encountered technical challenges during registration. However, they also stressed the need for applicants to complete the process promptly to avoid last-minute complications.

The 2026 WASSCE will be the first fully computer-based administration of the examination in Nigeria, marking a significant milestone in the country’s education reform efforts. Authorities maintain that the CBT model will modernise assessments and align Nigeria’s examination system with global standards.