The Federal Government has announced plans to transition national secondary school examinations conducted by WAEC and NECO to computer-based testing (CBT) by November 2025.

This initiative aims to curb widespread examination malpractice and align the exams with global best practices.Speaking during a television interview on Tuesday, the Minister of Education, Mr. Tunde Alausa, revealed that a comprehensive diagnostic review of the country’s examination system was initiated over six months ago.

A committee was set up to assess the integrity and administration of exams across the board.“We found that while the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has successfully eradicated cheating through its adoption of CBT and robust security protocols, exams like WAEC and NECO still face rampant malpractice,” the minister said.

Further discussing the impact of cheating on student morale, the minister expressed concern that the integrity gap between JAMB and secondary school exams undermines the nation’s educational values. “Hardworking students are disincentivized. When some students gain access to leaked questions, it discourages others from studying. It’s a system that turns good students bad,” he noted.

The minister confirmed that by 2027, all major national examinations — including WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB — will be fully conducted via CBT.

“We have zero tolerance for exam malpractice. It’s time to stop miracle centres and restore credibility to our education system,” he asserted.

He also disclosed that efforts are underway to improve teaching quality through the integration of technology and digital learning tools across primary and secondary education levels.

“Our youth are energetic and have the potential to excel, but the system must support their aspirations. We are determined to clean up the exam process and prepare them to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria and the global economy,” the minister concluded.