Our Reporter
ABUJA, Nigeria
The Federal Government has announced a sweeping reform of the nation’s secondary school examination system, revealing that by 2026, both the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) will fully transition from paper-based tests to computer-based testing (CBT).
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed the development while monitoring a pilot CBT Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) organised by NECO at Sascon International School, Maitama, Abuja. The pilot marks a significant shift in how school-leaving examinations will be conducted across Nigeria.
According to Alausa, all school-based WAEC and NECO exams will, from next year, be held in designated CBT centres — mirroring the structure of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
A Radical Departure from Status Quo
“This is the beginning of a new era,” Alausa declared. “We’re moving away from the outdated model of conducting school-based exams in classrooms. Like JAMB, WAEC and NECO will now be conducted at standardised CBT centres.”
The minister emphasised that thousands of such centres already exist nationwide, many privately owned and equipped with the required digital infrastructure. Alausa noted that this shift is not just about digitising examinations but about stimulating a broader technology ecosystem.
“These CBT centres represent billions of naira in investment. Expanding their utility beyond JAMB to WAEC and NECO exams will boost our digital economy, create jobs, and foster innovation in education technology,” he said.
He added that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s broader agenda to revitalise the economy through digital transformation and local entrepreneurship. “These are homegrown solutions. Nigerians are creating the hardware and software that will power this system. We should all be proud.”
Fighting Exam Malpractice, Restoring Credibility
Alausa did not shy away from pointing out one of the core motivations behind the policy shift — exam malpractice. According to him, the current system has been compromised by cheating, leaked papers, and corruption, undermining the credibility of national certificates.
“We cannot continue with the madness of exam malpractice. If we do, we’re sabotaging the future of our children. CBT will drastically reduce these risks and restore integrity to our examination process,” he stated.
Starting from November 2025, all objective components of WAEC and NECO exams will be computer-based. By 2026, both objective and essay sections will fully adopt the CBT format.
NECO Declares Readiness Amid Infrastructure Challenges
The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi, who also monitored the ongoing exams in Abuja, affirmed the council’s readiness for the transition. He acknowledged that while infrastructure remains a challenge, NECO is “good to go” with the process.
“We are very much ready as a professional body,” Wushishi said. “Of course, there are difficult terrains in Nigeria, but that’s why we are calling on state governments to urgently invest in CBT infrastructure. This reform will not only enhance exam quality but also reduce malpractice and raise the global credibility of our certificates.”
According to Wushishi, NECO registered a record 1,367,210 candidates for this year’s SSCE, with Kano State topping the list with over 137,000 entries. The centre with the fewest candidates was the Nigerian International School in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with just eight students.
Legislative Backing for Education Reform
The move has received backing from key stakeholders in the National Assembly. Senator Ekong Samson, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education (Basic and Secondary), who accompanied the minister on the inspection, expressed confidence in the CBT model.
“We live in an age of technology. Nigeria must align with global standards. As legislators, we’ll ensure this process is seamless,” Samson said.
Similarly, Hon. Oboku Oforji, Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Examination Bodies, who led an oversight visit to Federal Government Boys College, Apo, Abuja, praised NECO for the successful conduct of the exams.
“This is part of our job — to ensure standards are upheld. We are impressed with NECO’s performance under Prof. Wushishi’s leadership. We urge them to sustain the momentum,” Oforji remarked.
A Long Overdue Modernisation
This digital transition marks one of the boldest education reforms in Nigeria’s recent history. If implemented effectively, it could revolutionise how secondary education is assessed, promote digital literacy among students, and inject fresh vitality into the education-tech sector. However, the success of this policy hinges on infrastructure readiness, particularly in underserved rural areas where access to reliable electricity and internet remains a concern.
Equally critical will be stakeholder sensitisation — from school administrators and teachers to parents and students — to ensure the transition is inclusive, fair, and seamless.
For now, though, the Federal Government’s commitment is clear: it’s full speed ahead toward digital examination reform, and by 2026, Nigeria’s SSCE candidates could be clicking their way to the future.