The Federal Government aims to transition all examinations in Nigeria to 100% computer-based testing (CBT) by 2027, according to the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Committee on Improvement of Quality Examinations in Abuja on Thursday, Alausa outlined the government’s commitment to addressing key challenges in the education sector, standardizing exams, and ensuring fairness and quality.
He highlighted widespread examination malpractice as a major issue, noting that it involves not only students but also parents, teachers, principals, and exam supervisors.
“To tackle these issues, we must adopt a holistic approach,” Alausa stated. “By 2027, all our exams will be computer-based. We’ll work tirelessly to achieve this, leveraging technology to enhance the process.”
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The minister also introduced new measures to curb malpractice, including integrating national identification numbers (NIN), candidate photos, and birthdates on certificates issued by exam bodies such as WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB.
“Starting with the May-July exam cycle, these identifiers will ensure near-perfect accuracy in verifying candidates and eliminate identity theft,” he added.
Chairman of the committee, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, who also serves as JAMB Registrar, pledged the committee’s commitment to delivering on its mandate of improving the quality and integrity of examinations in Nigeria.
The government’s efforts are bolstered by increased funding under the Bola Tinubu administration, focusing on human capital development to ensure the nation’s educational standards are elevated.
Computer-Based Testing (CBT) is a test format that uses a computer instead of paper and pen. CBTs can be taken online or at a computer-aided facility.
