The Federal Government has expressed optimism over the future of computer-based examinations in Nigeria following the successful conduct of the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) using the Computer-Based Test (CBT) format.
Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, gave the assessment on Wednesday while monitoring the ongoing examination at Redeemer’s Teap School and Anglican Girls’ Grammar School in Abuja, describing the exercise as a major milestone in the fight against examination malpractice.
According to the minister, feedback from candidates at the centres showed overwhelming support for the CBT model, with many students preferring it to the conventional paper-and-pencil examination system.
She noted that students reported a seamless examination experience, with no technical glitches, delayed commencement, or disruptions throughout the process.
“Most of the students I interacted with expressed satisfaction with the CBT format. They confirmed that they had not seen the examination questions beforehand and that each candidate received a different set of questions through randomisation,” Ahmad said.
She explained that the technology-driven format significantly reduces opportunities for collusion among candidates, making it one of the most effective tools for curbing examination malpractice.
The minister, however, stressed that the government would only proceed with a nationwide transition to CBT after ensuring that the necessary infrastructure and support systems are available across the country.
“We are committed to a full transition, but no student will be disadvantaged in the process. We are collaborating with the National Assembly, state governments, private sector partners and other stakeholders to provide the facilities needed for a smooth nationwide rollout,” she stated.
Ahmad added that the adoption of CBT would strengthen the credibility of public examinations while promoting merit, transparency and integrity within the education system.
Speaking during the monitoring exercise, NECO Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, disclosed that the council had recorded zero technical failures since the commencement of the examination.
According to him, reports from examination centres indicated that the tests started on schedule and were conducted without network issues or system disruptions.
“They assured me that since the examination began, there has not been any technical hitch. The examinations started on time, and there were no network challenges or operational difficulties,” Wushishi said.
The registrar revealed that a total of 1,378,048 candidates registered for the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination, with female candidates slightly exceeding the number of males.
He attributed the growing participation of girls in national examinations to sustained government efforts and policies aimed at promoting girl-child education across the country.
Wushishi also disclosed that NECO currently operates about 10 CBT centres within the Federal Capital Territory and expressed confidence that results for the examination would be released by the first week of September to facilitate the 2026 admission process.
He maintained that the question-randomisation feature embedded in the CBT system has drastically reduced opportunities for malpractice while enhancing the overall integrity of the examination process.
Candidates who participated in the examination also commended the new format.
One of them, Ambassador Alabi of Redeemer’s Teap School, described the CBT examination as smooth, convenient and easier to navigate than the traditional paper-based method.
Similarly, Isaac Abioro, a candidate at Anglican Girls’ Grammar School, said the process had been efficient and user-friendly, noting that there had been no technical interruptions since the commencement of the examination.
For school administrators, the transition represents more than an examination reform; it is a step toward preparing students for an increasingly digital world.
Principal of Anglican Girls’ Grammar School, Mrs Nkiruka Nwafor, said the institution had already integrated CBT into some of its internal assessments to familiarise students with computer-based examinations before sitting for external tests.
“The future these students are entering is highly technology-driven. We introduced CBT early so they can gradually become comfortable with the system. This is a welcome development and one we have long anticipated,” she said.
Observations during the monitoring exercise showed candidates writing the examination in a calm and orderly environment, with no reported technical challenges, further reinforcing confidence in NECO’s gradual transition toward a fully computer-based examination system.
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