The Federal Government has established a three-year plan to transition all O' Level exams administered by the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to a computer-based testing (CBT) format.

This announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during a meeting in Abuja with officials from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), NECO, WAEC, and the Director of Senior Secondary Education.

The Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, shared this information in a statement on Friday in Abuja. The minister reiterated the government's firm position on zero tolerance for examination malpractices, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the integrity of all exams.

According to the statement, Alausa has established a committee to tackle critical issues such as exam leakages, identity theft, fraud, and to enhance supervision. The committee is set to be formally inaugurated in January 2025.

He further reaffirmed the government's commitment to maintaining the integrity of high-stakes exams conducted by NECO and WAEC, as well as placement exams overseen by JAMB.

“One of the key decisions at the meeting was the transition of all examinations (achievement and placement) into a CBT platform within the next three years, ensuring a more secure and efficient examination process.

“This is a significant step towards building a robust and credible examination system for Nigeria. We are moving swiftly to protect the future of our  education system and ensure that our students’ achievements are recognised fairly and accurately,” the minister stated

On her part, the Minister of State for Education, Dr Suwaiba Ahmad, expressed deep concern about the prevalence of such unethical practices in Nigeria’s educational system.

She described alarming practices such as students pooling funds to access leaked answers via WhatsApp and schools bribing officials to enable cheating.

Ahmad emphasised that these acts undermine the credibility of assessments and compromise the moral and academic development of students.

She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to enforcing strict measures to combat malpractice, ensure accountability, and uphold the integrity of the nation’s examination system.

She called on all stakeholders to work together in restoring fairness and transparency.

“With these measures in place, Nigeria is poised to strengthen the credibility of its educational system and set a new standard for examination security,” the statement noted.