Nigeria’s CBT Transition: Is WAEC and NECO Ready for 2026?
Nigeria is on the cusp of a significant shift in its educational landscape. In a move aimed at modernizing its assessment systems and tackling examination malpractice, the Federal Government has announced a plan to fully transition both the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) school candidates’ Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format by 2026. This ambitious undertaking follows the successful adoption of CBT by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Key Challenges and Opportunities of the CBT Shift
Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, emphasized that this transition seeks to embrace technology and ensure examination integrity. The decision will necessitate the move of SSCE exams from school premises to designated CBT centers. This approach echoes JAMB’s model. The federal government is relying on an initial phased roll-out, building on prior CBT experience. WAEC has already taken steps in this direction, as evidenced by the 2024 implementation of CBT for the WASSCE for Private Candidates, starting with the 2024-First Series examination. This foundational experience will be critical for navigating the complexities of scaling up CBT across both WAEC and NECO and the SSCE.
This transition presents both significant challenges and potential benefits. The primary challenge will be ensuring adequate infrastructure, including reliable internet connectivity and sufficient computer access for all candidates across the diverse geographical landscape of Nigeria. Success hinges on providing effective training for both students and invigilators. The switch also offers the opportunity to improve the efficiency of the examination process, reduce the time it takes to mark papers and deliver results, and reduce the chances of examination malpractices, especially for schools in Africa.
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