The Nigerian government has mandated the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) to fully transition to computer-based testing (CBT) for all their exams by 2026.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made this announcement on Monday in Bwari, as he outlined the timeline for the implementation of the new directive.
“We are going to get WAEC and NECO to also start their objective exams on CBT,” Alausa stated. “By 2026 exams, which will come up in May/June, both the objectives and the essay will be fully on CBT.”
This move is part of the government’s effort to modernize Nigeria’s educational system and eliminate examination malpractices that have plagued traditional paper-based tests over the years.
The transition to computer-based testing (CBT) will be gradual. From November 2025, both WAEC and NECO will begin administering the objective papers via CBT. However, the full adoption of CBT for both objective and essay-based exams will be completed by May or June 2026.
Dr. Alausa drew a comparison with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which has successfully conducted CBT exams for over 2.2 million candidates in recent years. He emphasized that if JAMB can handle such a large number of candidates, WAEC and NECO should be able to do the same.
The move to CBT is expected to have significant positive impacts, including reducing the incidence of exam malpractice, ensuring a more transparent and efficient exam process, and preparing students for the growing role of technology in education.
The ongoing exams for over 2 million candidates registered across 800 centres nationwide will still be conducted through the traditional method. However, this announcement marks a significant step toward bringing the country’s examination system in line with global standards.
No Comment! Be the first one.