FG moves to end exam malpractice, introduces CBT for WAEC and NECO from November 2025

By Isaac Joseph Inyang

In a decisive move aimed at restoring credibility to Nigeria’s examination system, the Federal Government has announced that all candidates sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) exams will begin writing their objective papers through computer-based testing (CBT) starting from November 2025.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu Alausa, during a recent interview with Channels Television. The decision, he explained, is a direct response to the widespread examination malpractice that has plagued the country’s school-based assessment systems in recent years.

Dr. Alausa said the government is determined to replicate the success recorded by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), whose migration to CBT significantly reduced cheating and result manipulation.

“If I were a pupil now and realized that some of my peers already have the questions before the exam, do you think I’ll study hard? No, I’ll join them,” the minister remarked, highlighting the psychological and academic toll of leaked exam papers on students who genuinely prepare.

The CBT implementation will begin with the objective section of the WAEC and NECO exams in 2025, with plans to incorporate the theory and practical components by 2026 and 2027. The full transition will eventually cover other examination bodies like the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) and the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS).

Despite the push for modernization, the Minister acknowledged that examination malpractice in Nigeria is a deep-rooted challenge, driven not just by students but also by teachers, school proprietors, and even some parents.

“It is a network of compromise, and it’s not limited to the students alone. We have a culture of malpractice that has penetrated various levels of the system,” he said.

To tackle this, the Ministry is working to integrate artificial intelligence and biometric technology into the exam process to monitor and trace unusual patterns during testing.

In line with this effort, Dr. Alausa also unveiled a six-point reform agenda for Nigeria’s education sector. The strategy includes overhauling basic education curricula, expanding vocational education in secondary schools with the introduction of 13 new trades, and improving digital literacy across schools. Also included are data-driven planning through the Nigeria Education Data Initiative (NEDI), a renewed push to reduce the number of out-of-school children, and enhanced teacher training programs.

However, the decision has drawn mixed reactions. While many stakeholders welcomed the bold shift, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) cautioned that CBT, though effective, is not a silver bullet.

“We must not mistake a technological shift for a complete solution. Malpractice is rooted in deeper socio-economic and ethical issues that must also be addressed,” a spokesperson of the union was quoted as saying.

Nonetheless, the Education Ministry insists that there will be no going back on the CBT transition, emphasizing that the new system is non-negotiable and necessary for the survival of academic integrity in Nigeria.

As the countdown begins toward November 2025, schools across the country are expected to begin preparations for the digital transformation, including installing CBT facilities and training staff and students.

The proposed reform signals a turning point for Nigeria’s education system, one that could shape a generation of learners to compete globally—if effectively implemented and monitored.