The Federal Government has announced plans to migrate all school-based Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations, conducted by WAEC and NECO, to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) format by 2026.
Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Abuja on Monday, emphasizing the government’s commitment to embracing digital innovations in education.
According to the Minister, preparations are already underway to fully utilize existing CBT centres operated by private individuals, as well as those managed by government agencies and tertiary institutions, for the nationwide deployment.
“This move is part of our broader agenda to modernize Nigeria’s assessment systems, reduce examination malpractices, and align with global best practices,” Mamman said.
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He added that the transition will be gradual, starting with pilot runs in select schools and centres by early 2026 before full-scale implementation in subsequent examination cycles.
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Stakeholders including the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), WAEC, NECO, and school administrators have been urged to work collaboratively to ensure the seamless rollout of the new format.
The announcement marks a major shift in the administration of public examinations in Nigeria, which have traditionally relied on paper-and-pencil methods.
