The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has reiterated its dedication to implementing a complete transition to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for national examinations, including those conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), by the year 2026. This announcement was made during the minister’s visit to observe the ongoing WAEC CBT exams in Abuja.
Dr. Alausa expressed confidence in Nigeria’s readiness to modernize its examination system using technology, emphasizing that this transition is critical in curbing examination malpractice and fostering a fairer, more transparent academic environment. He praised WAEC for leading the shift from the traditional paper-and-pen format to computer-based assessments, describing it as a historic milestone aimed at upholding educational standards and integrity.
The minister highlighted the key benefits of CBT, notably its role in simplifying examination processes and drastically reducing the chances of cheating. He emphasized that technological administration of exams significantly reduces the risk of fraud, claiming that with CBT, malpractice is “minimised to almost zero.” Furthermore, he commended WAEC for implementing strong internal security measures. According to him, the use of a secure Local Area Network (LAN) ensures that the system is virtually impossible to hack, thus safeguarding the credibility of the exams.
Looking ahead, Dr. Alausa stated that by November 2025, all WAEC multiple-choice papers would be conducted exclusively through CBT, with essay components and exams by other bodies like NECO expected to follow by 2026.
However, the minister acknowledged the logistical and infrastructural challenges that come with nationwide digital exam deployment, especially in remote and underserved regions. While admitting that not all infrastructure will be ready by the set date, he assured that the government is actively working on scalable solutions. He encouraged stakeholders to embrace the transition, describing it as a necessary step for long-term improvement in the education sector.
Addressing concerns over exam scheduling logistics, Alausa noted that students typically sit for about eight to nine papers spread over several days, a reality that demands strategic planning from education administrators. He confirmed that work is already underway to streamline the process for efficiency.
The ongoing WAEC examinations, which began on April 24 and will end on June 20, 2025, feature nearly two million candidates from over 23,000 schools across Nigeria. Among them, 979,228 are male, representing 49.63 percent, while 994,025 are female, accounting for 50.37 percent.
