The Federal Government has announced a new set of strategies aimed at drastically reducing examination malpractice in the conduct of West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations beginning from 2026.
The initiatives were unveiled on Monday in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmed, as part of efforts to restore integrity and public confidence in Nigeria’s examination system.
The disclosure was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade.
According to the statement, the reforms are designed to strengthen transparency, tighten supervision and address long-standing challenges associated with cheating and other examination irregularities.
A key aspect of the reforms is the deployment of technology-driven solutions, including enhanced question randomisation and serialisation. Under the new arrangement, candidates will answer the same set of questions, but the sequence and structure will differ from one candidate to another.
The ministry said the innovation would ensure that each candidate sits for a unique version of the examination, significantly reducing the chances of collusion in examination halls.
The Federal Government also reiterated its stance on the prohibition of student transfers at the Senior Secondary School Three level, warning that the policy would now be strictly enforced.
It recalled that the restriction had earlier been communicated through an official circular and was introduced to curb last-minute transfers often linked to examination malpractice.
To further improve accountability, new national guidelines on Continuous Assessment have been approved for immediate implementation. The guidelines require all examination bodies to comply with standardised timelines for the submission of assessment records.
According to the ministry, the mandatory submission windows are January for First Term Continuous Assessment, April for the Second Term and August for the Third Term, stressing that the timelines are aimed at ensuring data integrity, consistency and timely processing nationwide.
In addition, the government is introducing a unique Examination Learners’ Identity Number for all candidates. Officials said the identifier would enhance monitoring, enable effective tracking of candidates throughout the examination process and support broader reforms in assessment, certification and data management.
The ministers assured stakeholders that examinations would henceforth be conducted under stricter supervision and in close collaboration with examination bodies to ensure adherence to ethical standards.
They stressed that the measures reflect the Federal Government’s commitment to conducting credible and fair examinations in line with global best practices, while addressing Nigeria’s peculiar educational challenges.
The Ministry of Education reaffirmed its readiness to work with examination bodies, state governments, school administrators, parents and candidates to ensure the smooth implementation of the reforms and the successful conduct of the 2026 examinations across the country.
