The Federal Government has announced that all school-based Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) will be conducted at Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres from next year, following a successful pilot by the National Examinations Council (NECO).
Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, revealed this on Tuesday, July 22, in Abuja after monitoring NECO’s pilot CBT exam at Sascon International School, Maitama.
Alausa praised NECO for its smooth execution, saying, “WAEC and NECO exams are school-based exams being conducted at their schools. No, we will move away from that.”
He said future exams would follow the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) format at approved CBT centres.
Explaining further, He said that the move would create economic opportunities and reduce exam malpractice.
“We also have to expand the value chain of these CBT centres. They should not just be to service JAMB alone,” Alausa said. “They will create jobs… These are homegrown solutions. We should all be proud.”
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According to him, by November this year, all WAEC and NECO objective exams will be computer-based. By 2026, both essay and objective papers will fully adopt CBT formats.
NECO Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, confirmed readiness for the shift, despite infrastructural challenges.
“There are facilities that will give us the opportunity to conduct CBT, and we are good to go for that,” he said.
He revealed that 1,367,210 students registered for this year’s SSCE, the highest ever, with Kano having the most candidates and Jeddah’s Nigerian International School the fewest.
Lawmakers also lent their support. Senator Ekong Samson promised Senate backing for a smooth transition, while Hon. Oboku Oforji praised NECO’s performance during oversight visits to exam centres.
“We are very proud of what NECO is doing under the leadership of Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi,” Oforji said.