The Federal Authorities has introduced a complete set of measures geared toward eliminating examination malpractice in WAEC and NECO examinations ranging from the 2026 examination cycle.
The announcement was made in a press launch issued on January 5, 2026, by the Federal Ministry of Training and signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.
The reforms come amid long-standing considerations over the credibility of public examinations in Nigeria and ongoing efforts by the federal government to strengthen transparency and restore public confidence within the nation’s evaluation system.
In response to the Ministry, the brand new measures have been disclosed by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, alongside the Minister of State for Training, Professor Suwaiba Stated Ahmed, as a part of broader schooling sector reforms.
One of many main adjustments is enhanced query randomisation and serialisation, which can be sure that whereas candidates reply the identical questions, the sequence and association differ for every scholar.
“This ensures that each candidate writes a singular model of the examination and considerably reduces alternatives for collusion,” the assertion famous.
The Ministry introduced the introduction of a singular Examination Learners’ Identification Quantity for all candidates.
In response to the assertion, the identifier will help efficient monitoring of learners all through the examination course of, strengthen monitoring and accountability, and help long-term reforms in evaluation, certification, and schooling knowledge administration.
The schooling ministry additionally developed a brand new necessary nationwide Steady Evaluation guideline for instant implementation. Underneath the brand new framework, First Time period Steady Evaluation have to be submitted in January, Second Time period submissions in April, and Third Time period submissions in August.
The Ministry reaffirmed its strict coverage prohibiting the switch of candidates on the Senior Secondary School 3 stage will now be rigorously enforced to stop last-minute college adjustments typically related to examination malpractice.
The Ministers assured stakeholders that examination administration will likely be performed beneath strengthened supervision and in shut coordination with related examination our bodies.
They emphasised that the brand new measures mirror the Federal Authorities’s resolve to conduct examinations which can be credible, truthful, and aligned with world finest practices, whereas addressing Nigeria’s academic realities.
Examination malpractice stays a serious concern in Nigeria’s schooling sector, typically weakening the credibility of certificates issued by examination our bodies.
In 2025, WAEC withheld 192,089 outcomes, or 9.75 per cent of candidates, down from 11.92 per cent in 2024, although considerations stay over organised dishonest and cell phone use.
