WAEC, NECO to adopt CBT for 2026 exams

The Federal Government has directed the the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) to adopt Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for all their examinations by 2026.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during the monitoring of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) alongside JAMB officials in Abuja on Monday, April 28, 2025.

Alausa revealed that both WAEC and NECO would start administering their objective papers via CBT effective November 2025.

Alausa stated that the adoption of the CBT for essay and objective components would commenced fully by May/June 2026.

The minister said: “If JAMB can successfully conduct CBT exams for more than 2.2 million candidates, WAEC and NECO can do the same.

“We are going to get WAEC and NECO to also start their objective exam on CBT.

“By 2026 exams which will come up in May/June, both the objectives and the essay will be fully on CBT. That is how we can eliminate exam malpractices.”

Alausa also disclosed that a committee is currently reviewing examination standards nationwide, with recommendations expected next month.

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The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, while speaking on the early schedule of the examinations, clarified that the board’s UTME had always begun at 8:00 a.m.

Oloyede said candidates were only expected to be on ground by 6:30 a.m., to enable them get accredited before the exams.

He dismissed complaints about early arrival times, noting that it was necessary to screen candidates before exams begin.

“We have always started our exams at 8 o’clock. The first session is 8 o’clock, second session 10:30, third session, 1 p.m., and fourth session 3:30 p.m.,” the JAMB boss added.

Oloyede also debunked claims of candidates being posted to centres they did not choose, stating that investigations showed no such cases occurred.

He disclosed that more than 1.6 million out of 2.03 million registered candidates had completed their examinations, with about 50,000 remaining.

Oloyede further revealed that more than 40 candidates had been arrested for malpractice, including impersonation and attempting to smuggle out examination questions with hidden cameras.

The Star