By Onilede Titi Faith
The National Examinations Council (NECO), has announced plans to phase out the traditional paper-pencil method and fully migrate to Computer-Based Examinations (CBE), starting with the November/December 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), External.
This transition aligns with the Federal Government’s directive that by 2026, all school-based examinations conducted by NECO and WAEC will be fully computer-based, using accredited public and private CBT centres nationwide.
In a statement on Wednesday, NECO disclosed that arrangements have been finalised for the migration, with invitations already extended to qualified CBT centre operators to apply for registration.
The Council noted that only centres meeting strict technical, infrastructural, and security standards will be approved.
According to the guidelines, each accredited centre must provide at least 150 functional computers or laptops with 10 per cent backups, robust servers, standardised cubicles, air-conditioned halls, CCTV surveillance with IP cameras, and strong internet connectivity from MTN or Airtel.
NECO further emphasised that makeshift CBT centres will not be accepted, stressing that only purpose-built centres maintained throughout the year will be approved.
On examination integrity, the Council insisted that CBT staff must be reliable individuals of proven moral standing to safeguard the credibility of the process.
Other mandatory requirements include a minimum 40KVA generator, UPS or inverters with at least three-hour capacity, internal toilets, holding rooms for candidates, and fenced premises with adequate security.
NECO described the transition as a major milestone in modernising Nigeria’s examination system, aimed at ensuring fairness, efficiency, and credibility.
