WAEC, NECO Exams: FG Announces Full Transition to CBT, Discloses Implementation Date
- The federal government has announced plans to begin conducting SSCE at both public and private Computer-Based Testing (CBT) centres nationwide from 2026
- Education minister Dr. Tunji Alausa disclosed this after a successful pilot CBT SSCE run by NECO, praising the initiative as a step toward curbing exam malpractice
- The National Assembly also pledged to support the transition, stressing the importance of aligning Nigeria’s education system with global digital practices
FCT, Abuja - The Federal Government has revealed plans to utilise both privately owned and public Computer-Based Testing centres across the country to conduct the Senior School Certificate Examination starting in 2026.
Source: Twitter
Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this after observing a trial run of the Computer-Based Test for SSCE conducted by the National Examination Council at Sascon International School in Abuja on Tuesday, July 22, as reported by The Punch.
Alausa praised NECO for executing the CBT SSCE pilot phase smoothly and announced plans to relocate future school-based SSCEs to designated CBT centres outside school premises.
“WAEC and NECO exams are school-based exams being conducted at their schools. No, we will move away from that.
“It is going to be like the way JAMB exams are being conducted at CBT centres. We have thousands of CBT centres across the nation." He said
Alausa also lauded NECO's readiness to adopt Computer-Based Testing fully, stating that the successful pilot showcased the council's capability and dedication to implementing reforms.
"I have to commend the Registrar of NECO for the hard work that he and his team have deployed to get us to this stage. This is a transition that is possible.
“We just have to work hard to get there. We cannot continue with this madness of exam practice, our exams being caught with cheating, leaked questions, both WAEC and NECO. If we allow this to continue, it will destroy the capacity of our youth, of our children,” Alausa emphasised
Speaking to journalists after observing the examination process at the model secondary school in Maitama, Senator Ekong Samson, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, reaffirmed the lawmakers' dedication to facilitating a smooth shift to Computer-Based Testing.
“We are living in an age of technology. Nigeria must come to terms with what happens anywhere and whatever measures we need to keep our educational system abreast with the world over, we will do that as legislators." He explained
According to him, the Senate will continue to monitor the process and the need to put measures in place that will guarantee the quality of education in the country.
Source: Twitter
Youth advocate backs computer-based WASSCE
Meanwhile, a youth development advocate has welcomed the move to adopt a computer-based format for the WASSCE, describing it as a step towards curbing malpractice.
Kingdom Ogoegbunam, executive director of the Platform for Youth and Women Development, said digitising WAEC exams, like the UTME, could reduce leakage and exam malpractice by automating security processes. However, he cautioned that technology alone is not a "magic solution."
"For this to work, especially in rural areas, schools must have functional ICT infrastructure, and both students and teachers need to be digitally trained and confident," Ogoegbunam told Legit.ng in an exclusive chat.
He also advocated for a shift in exam formats from rote memorisation to creative and critical thinking approaches, which are naturally more resistant to cheating.
Beyond exam delivery, Ogoegbunam stressed the need to make education more engaging and relevant to students.
"A joyful learning experience, not just digital tools, will produce better outcomes," he said.
Alausa unveils ICT blueprint for tertiary education
Legit.ng previously reported that Nigeria’s education sector will witness a turning point as Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of the Federal Ministry of Education, unveiled a far-reaching digitalisation plan and inaugurated the newly reconstituted Governing Councils of federal tertiary institutions.
The event, held on Tuesday in Abuja, marked the official launch of the Blueprint ICT Development (Blueprint-ICT-Dev) Project, a major initiative designed to modernise the operations, delivery, and global engagement of Nigerian universities.
Alausa partners with Amazon
Legit.ng also reported that the Ministry of Education, in a decisive push to reform Nigeria’s education landscape, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has unveiled a landmark initiative aimed at equipping students and teachers with in-demand digital skills.
The initiative, launched in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), is aimed at democratising access to training in emerging technologies, including cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
Legit.ng's head of politics and current affairs desk, Nurudeen Lawal, contributed a youth development advocate, Kingdom Ogoegbunam's reaction to this report.
Source: Legit.ng
