According to The Guardian, former presidential candidate Peter Obi has voiced strong opposition to the compulsory adoption of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for all secondary schools. Obi warned that enforcing a digital-only format without providing the necessary ICT infrastructure would disenfranchise students in rural and underserved communities, further widening the educational gap in Nigeria.
Speaking at a school event in Anambra, Obi argued that while digitalization is necessary, it must be preceded by a massive investment in school laboratories and reliable electricity. He cautioned that many schools currently lack the basic facilities to register candidates under the new CBT guidelines, which could lead to a massive drop in examination enrollment.
In response to these concerns, some philanthropists have begun donating ICT centers to schools to help them meet the new requirements. However, Obi insists that private intervention alone cannot bridge a gap created by systemic government neglect.
ThisDay reported that several civil society groups have joined Obi in calling for a phased implementation of the policy. A school principal quoted in The Nation stated, “We cannot test children on computers they have never touched in a classroom.” Meanwhile, Daily Post quoted an education official who argued, “The transition to CBT is inevitable if we are to eliminate examination malpractice, but the timeline must be realistic.”
Echotitbits take: Obi is tapping into a very real anxiety among parents and educators. While CBT reduces cheating, the “digital divide” is a legitimate threat to national literacy rates. Expect this to become a major talking point in the upcoming education reform debates.
Source: The Guardian – https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/peter-obi-criticises-jamb-over-unjust-clampdown-on-cbt-centres-in-anambra/, and February 15, 2026
Photo credit: The Guardian
Tag: WAEC
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Peter Obi Warns of Educational Inequality Over Mandatory CBT Policy
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Federal Government Unveils Enhanced Measures to Combat Exam Fraud
In an update published by The Nation, the Federal Government has introduced a suite of new measures designed to curb examination malpractices across the country. These include the rollout of unique identification numbers for all candidates sitting for WAEC and NECO examinations, as well as the integration of advanced biometric verification systems at all testing centers.
The initiative aims to protect the integrity of the Nigerian education system, which has been under scrutiny due to the rise of ‘miracle centers’ and digital cheating methods. Education officials emphasized that these reforms are part of a broader digital transformation strategy intended to modernize the academic assessment process.
The development was also validated by Daily Post and Tribune Online. Daily Post reported that ‘FG to roll out unique ID for WAEC, NECO candidates,’ while Tribune Online noted that ‘JAMB maintains no fee hike for 2026 UTME’ as part of the government’s effort to keep education accessible while tightening security.
Echotitbits take: Curbing exam fraud is essential for the international credibility of Nigerian degrees. The unique ID system is a smart move toward a centralized education database. However, the real test will be whether the government can effectively monitor the rural centers where the most egregious malpractices usually occur.
Source: TheWhistler – https://thewhistler.ng/fg-to-end-cheating-in-waec-neco-exams/ January 6 2026Photo Credit: TheWhistler
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Nigeria to bar SS3 admissions and late transfers from 2026/27 to curb exam malpractice
2025-12-15 08:00:00
According to The Punch, the Federal Government announced a nationwide ban on admission and transfer of students into SS3 in both public and private secondary schools, effective from the 2026/2027 academic session.
Punch reports the ministry said the move targets growing examination malpractice—especially last-minute movement of candidates to so-called ‘special centres’—and aims to improve academic monitoring and continuity.
The report adds that schools have been directed to comply, with sanctions promised for violations under existing education regulations.
Analysis/Echotitbits take: Implementation will be the real test: states and private schools must align admission processes and enforcement. Watch for detailed guidelines, exceptions (if any), and how WAEC/NECO exam bodies and state ministries coordinate compliance.
Source: Nigeria Education News — December 14, 2025
Nigeria Education News https://thenigeriaeducationnews.com/2025/12/14/fg-bans-admission-transfer-into-ss3-to-curb-exam-malpractice/ December 14, 2025
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Senate Demands Pause on Sudden WAEC SSCE Subject Changes
The Senate summoned the Education Minister and WAEC leadership over sudden modifications to the 2025/2026 SSCE subject structure. Lawmakers warned the timing could destabilise SS3 candidates preparing for the May/June 2026 examinations.
Senators urged that affected candidates be exempted and that major revisions be deferred to later cycles to allow schools and students adequate preparation.
2025-12-10
Punch Newspapers
2025-12-10
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WAEC Debunks Allegations of WASSCE Question Paper’s Leakage
West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) in Nigeria has explained that there was no leakage of any paper in5 the ongoing West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates.
The council, while reacting to publications in the media, debunked allegations of leakage of question papers in the ongoing WASSCE.
WAEC, in a statement by its Acting Head of Public Affairs, Demianus Ojijeogu, said: “There has been no leakage of any paper, whatsoever.
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“Some have even gone ahead to misquote the Head of the National Office of WAEC Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Areghan, as confirming the same.
“This is far from the truth and we take very strong exception to it.”
The statement clarified that the council’s monitoring and investigations have revealed that some supervisors, invigilators and candidates snapped the question papers, while the examination was in progress and forwarded same to their outside collaborators who in turn, provided solutions to the questions, which they sent to their subscribers via criminally-inclined websites, SMS and Whatsapp.
He added that the act runs against the council’s rule on the use of cellphones in the examination hall.
“Some culprits, who were caught in the act in Bauchi, Nasarawa and Rivers states, have been arrested and will be prosecuted,” he said.
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The council, therefore, warned candidates, invigilators, and supervisors against every act of examination malpractice, urging the supervisors, who are secondary school teachers, to justify the confidence reposed in them by the education ministries in the states that nominated them to supervise the ongoing WASSC examination.
WAEC reassured stakeholders and the general public that the integrity of the ongoing WASSCE for school candidates was still intact.
Idowu Sowunmi
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WAEC releases timetable for 2020 WASSCE
West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Tuesday released the final international timetable for the conduct of the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
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The council, which took to its Twitter handle to break the news in a statement by its spokesperson, Demainus Ojijeogu, enjoined the general public to disregard “several versions of the examination timetable that have been in circulation.”
The statement stated that the examination would begin effective from August 17 to September 12, 2020.
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“The council hereby urges the candidates to abide by the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of the examination by shunning all acts of malpractice and obeying all COVID-19 protocols that have been put in place at the examination centres,” WAEC said.
Idowu Sowunmi