In a reform set to redefine the conduct of secondary school-leaving examinations in Nigeria, the Federal Government has directed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) to fully adopt Computer-Based Testing (CBT) by 2026.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced the policy shift on Monday while monitoring ongoing examinations in Bwari, Abuja, alongside officials from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The directive is part of broader efforts to modernise assessment procedures and curb rampant examination malpractice across the country.
According to the minister, both WAEC and NECO will commence the administration of their objective tests via CBT beginning this November, with full CBT integration covering both essay and objective sections slated for the May/June 2026 examination cycle.
“If JAMB can successfully conduct CBT exams for more than 2.2 million candidates, WAEC and NECO can do the same. We are going to get WAEC and NECO to also start their objective exam on CBT. By 2026 exams which will come up in May/June, both the objectives and the essay will be fully on CBT. That is how we can eliminate exam malpractices.”Dr Alausa said.
Over two million candidates are currently sitting for the national exams in more than 800 centres spread across the country.
Alausa disclosed that a committee is already reviewing examination standards nationwide and is expected to submit its recommendations in the coming month.
The monitoring exercise also featured JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, who responded to concerns raised by parents and candidates over early arrival times and centre allocations for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
“We have always started our exams at 8 o’clock. The first session is 8 o’clock, second session 10:30, third session, 1 p.m, and fourth session 3:30 p.m.
“Candidates are expected to be on ground by 6:30 a.m. for accreditation. It is necessary to screen candidates before exams begin,” he clarified.
He further debunked allegations of candidates being assigned to centres they did not select, insisting that thorough investigations showed no such occurrences.
Oloyede revealed that out of 2.03 million registered candidates, more than 1.6 million had completed their UTME, with about 50,000 yet to sit the test. He confirmed that over 40 candidates had been apprehended for various forms of malpractice, including impersonation and attempting to smuggle out exam questions using hidden cameras.
He also disclosed that more than 41,000 of the registered candidates were underage.
