The Federal Government has directed the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, and the National Examinations Council, NECO to adopt full Computer-Based Test, CBT, for all their examinations latest by 2026. Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, gave the directive on behalf of federal government during the monitoring of the ongoing exams alongside JAMB officials, in Bwari this morning.
It was learned that more than 2 million candidates registered for the ongoing examination in more than 800 centers spread across the country this year.
Alausa explained that both the WAEC and NECO should start administering their objective papers via CBT, effective this November, 2025.
Meanwhile, the full adoption of CBT for the essay and objective components would commence by May or June 2026, the Minister added.
He said, ”If JAMB can successfully conduct CBT exams for more than 2.2 million candidates, WAEC and NECO can should 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 and will be unveiled to Nigerians once concluded.
Earlier, the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, while speaking on the early schedule of the exams, reiterated to both the UTME board and registered candidates that exams had always begun at 8:00 a.m.
Only that those candidates are expected to be at the exams venue latest by 6:30 a.m., to enable examiners get the candidates accredited before the exams.
Meanwhile, he dismissed complaints about early arrival times, noting that it was necessary to screen candidates before exams began.
“We have always started our exams at 8 o’clock. The first session is 8 o’clock, the second session is 10:30, the third session is 1 p.m., and the fourth session is 3:30 p.m.
Oloyede also debunked claims of candidates being posted to centers they did not choose, stating that investigations showed no such cases had happened.
He confirmed that more than 1.6 million out of 2.03 million registered candidates had completed their exams, with about 50,000 remaining.
The registrar further added that more than 40 candidates had been arrested for malpractice, including impersonation and attempting to smuggle out exam questions with hidden cameras.
He added that of the registered candidates, more than 41,000 were underage.
NAN