Experts weigh in as NECO remains upbeat on transition to CBT exams 

CLEMENT IDOKO writes on the issues following the Federal Government’s directive for public examinations to migrate fully to Computer-Based Examinations, and the readiness of the National Examinations Council (NECO), the nation’s foremost indigenous examination body, for the 2027 deadline. 

When the Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, announced that the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) must fully migrate to computer-based examinations (CBE) by 2027, the directive was widely seen as both ambitious and inevitable. 

The directive attracted divergent views from experts and critical stakeholders in the education sector. To some, the push toward technology-driven assessments appears to align with global realities, especially for a country battling examination malpractice; delays in result processing, weak infrastructure, and growing digital demands. 

Nonetheless, many stakeholders have continued to ask questions about Nigeria’s readiness for the transition, specifically regarding the foremost indigenous examination body, NECO. 

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Established on July 10, 1999, NECO was created to provide Nigeria with a credible, nationally responsive examination body capable of administering standardised assessments. The council recently marked its silver jubilee, 25 years of conducting national examinations. The examination body finds itself at a defining moment in its institutional history: balancing its legacy of credibility with the demands of digital transformation. 

Minister of Education Dr Alausa, speaking at the 25th anniversary celebration of NECO penultimate week in Abuja, declared that NECO would be spearheading the transition of public examinations to computer-based examinations in line with the ongoing reforms in the education sector in Nigeria. 

Alausa said: “The Silver Jubilee invites us to celebrate what NECO has achieved, especially in equity, transparency, and the use of data to inform policy decisions. We must explore innovative assessment approaches that reflect 21st-century competencies, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital literacy, while maintaining rigorous standards. 

“We are at the threshold of a very important reform, which NECO is spearheading and that is the Computer-Based Examination (CBE), which is to commence this year. This will go a long way in curbing the menace of examination malpractice due to its ability to track and detect suspicious activity and also provide real-time monitoring of candidates,” the minister stated. 

However, the national president of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Titus Amba, cautioned the government against a hasty migration of public examination bodies to the computer-based mode of testing students in the country. 

He argued that Nigerian schools lack the digital infrastructure to support the Federal Government’s planned transition of public examinations to full Computer-Based Testing (CBT), saying poor infrastructure and low digital literacy among teachers and students remain major obstacles. 

Amba said although the union fully supports digital reforms in education and recognises the importance of aligning Nigeria with global best practices, the reality in many rural communities shows that the country is not yet adequately prepared for a full transition to computer-based examinations by 2027. 

Amba said the initiative is commendable but warned that without deliberate investments in infrastructure, digital access, and teacher capacity development, the policy could further widen educational inequality between urban and rural students. 

“NUT is in support of CBT or anything digital, because we need to move with what is trending globally. We cannot isolate ourselves from universal best practices. However, there must be a deliberate move to equip our schools, teachers, learners,” he said. 

He lamented that many students in rural communities have never had physical access to computers, tablets, or smart phones before reaching senior secondary school. 

“If you go to some villages, you will discover that many graduating students have never seen an iPhone, let alone a tablet or laptop, yet they are in the Senior Secondary  School(SSS)  3. Then tomorrow you ask them to go and write a CBT examination. Automatically, you know such children are already disadvantaged,” he said. 

According to him, some schools in rural communities still struggle with poor electricity supply, weak telecommunications networks, and lack of internet connectivity, making digital learning and computer-based assessments difficult to implement. 

He recounted a personal experience where he was unable to reach a family member residing in a teacher staff quarters in a rural secondary school due to network challenges. 

“There are places in this country where even phone calls cannot get through to. If you cannot make a call in a school environment, how do you talk about online learning or CBT examinations,” he asked. 

Some stakeholders have, however, thrown their weight behind the government policy, noting that Nigeria must move along with what is happening around the world. 

An educationist, Dr Felix Onuora, told the Nigerian Tribune that the introduction of CBT examinations would strengthen the quality of education and digital literacy in the country, which he added is necessary for Nigerian students to be globally competitive. 

In an interview, the registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, reaffirmed the commitment of the council to lead the transition to CBT examinations, disclosing that NECO has quietly built a foundation for digital modernisation. 

Interestingly, what commenced amid skepticism, infrastructural limitations, and public distrust has grown into an institution that now conducts examinations beyond Nigeria’s borders in eight countries. From the pioneering era of Dibu Ojerinde, who introduced online registration and internet-based result access, to the current administration under Wushishi, NECO has steadily embraced digital reforms. 

The NECO boss noted that the council under his watch introduced a lot of reforms, including online registration systems; internet-based result checking, deployment of the NECO e-Verify platform, digital certificate systems, establishment of an e-library and data analysis studio, and expansion of zonal offices and operational logistics nationwide. 

According to him, these milestones suggest that NECO is not entirely new to technology, adding that “in fact, among public examination bodies in Nigeria, it has quietly built a foundation for digital modernisation.” 

He also explained that the transition would be a phased implementation beginning this year, paving the way for full migration to CBT examinations in 2027 as announced by the Federal Government. 

Maintaining that this shift is a natural extension of its digitisation journey, Wushishi said the council has invested heavily in infrastructure, including construction projects in 10 states, procurement of operational vehicles, and modernisation of internal systems. 

Despite the optimism, stakeholders remain cautious. They observed that unlike the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which is largely a multiple-choice, ranking examination conducted within a few hours, NECO’s examinations are fundamentally different. 

A lecturer at the Faculty of Education, Nasarawa State University, Dr Aminu Umar, explained that NECO conducts achievement-based assessments involving essay writing; practical examinations, subjective responses, and multi-week examination schedules for millions of school-based candidates nationwide. 

He noted that this creates a significantly more complex transition, especially in the face of infrastructure deficit. Nigeria’s digital infrastructure remains uneven. 

“Many public secondary schools, particularly in rural communities, still struggle with lack of computer laboratories, unstable electricity supply, poor internet connectivity, and limited access to modern learning devices. In many parts of northern and river side communities, candidates may be encountering computers for the first time during registration, not to mention during examinations,” he stated. 

He added that a major concern is the preparedness of candidates themselves, stressing that while urban students may adapt relatively quickly, many students in underserved communities lack basic computer skills. 

Umar warned that without nationwide digital literacy interventions, CBT could deepen educational inequality rather than solve existing problems. 

He added that migrating fully to CBT would require enormous investment, saying NECO would need thousands of secure examination computers, biometric verification systems, dedicated examination servers, cyber security architecture, technical support personnel nationwide, and backup power systems for examination centres. 

He raised some salient questions:  “Can essay-heavy examinations be effectively digitised for millions of candidates? Can practical science examinations be fully adapted? 

How will candidates with disabilities be accommodated? These are questions policymakers must answer before full implementation.” 

Executive Director of Education Rights Initiative, Dr Solomon Udah, on his part, noted that if the 2027 deadline is to succeed, government support must move beyond policy declarations to massive infrastructure investment. 

He added that the government must provide dedicated funding for CBT centres across all local government areas, solar-powered examination centres in off-grid communities, and secure digital networks. 

According to him, computer literacy must become compulsory in public secondary schools, noting that students should not meet CBT platforms for the first time in examination halls.

He also spoke on teacher capacity development, stressing that teachers and examination administrators must be trained on digital assessment delivery, troubleshooting examination platforms, cyber security, and data handling. 

He suggested pilot testing before full rollout, saying instead of a sudden nationwide transition, NECO should begin with pilot implementation in selected states, allowing room for evaluation and system improvement. 

Udah further noted that the government may need to collaborate with technology firms, telecom providers, and power companies to bridge infrastructure gaps. 

Meanwhile, the registrar of the council, Professor Wushishi, has reaffirmed his council’s commitment to innovation, quality assessment, and continuous improvement as NECO marks its 25th anniversary, signaling strong institutional readiness for the migration to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) examinations. 

Speaking during the Silver Jubilee Gala and Awards Ceremony held in Abuja, Professor Wushishi highlighted NECO’s achievements over the past two and a half decades, noting that the examination body has impacted nearly 35 million Nigerians through various forms of assessments and examinations. 

He NECO has consistently pursued excellence through robust assessment frameworks, standardised test papers, and innovative policies that have strengthened confidence in the nation’s educational system. 

He described the anniversary celebration as not only a ceremonial occasion but also a moment of reflection, recognition, and renewed commitment to advancing educational assessment in Nigeria. 

“Our work has touched the lives of almost 35 million Nigerians in the past 25 years. From robust assessment frameworks to impressive innovations, NECO has consistently pursued excellence in standardising test papers and policies,” he said. 

The registrar emphasised that the council remains focused on embracing innovation while maintaining the integrity, fairness, and transparency of its examinations, a position widely seen as aligning with preparations for the adoption of CBT examinations. 

Wushishi stated that NECO would continue to invest in people, processes, and technology to enhance the reliability and relevance of its assessments, while also strengthening collaboration with governments, schools, communities, and international partners. 

Observers say the emphasis on technology, innovation, and improved assessment systems demonstrates NECO’s growing capacity and preparedness to transition successfully into the CBT era, in line with global best practices in examination administration. 

During the event, NECO also recognised distinguished individuals and institutions through several award categories, including the Highest Achievement Award, Distinguished Service Award, Shining Pillars Award, Prestigious Service Award, and Exemplary Service Award. 

The registrar also noted that the awards were designed to celebrate excellence, integrity, leadership, and contributions to educational development in Nigeria. 

“As we reflect on 25 years of NECO’s existence, let us also look forward with optimism. On our part, we will continue to uphold the integrity, fairness, and transparency of our examinations, embrace innovation while maintaining rigorous standards, and strengthen collaborations with all partners to broaden access to quality assessment,” he added. 

He expressed appreciation to stakeholders, award recipients, and members of staff for their dedication and contributions toward sustaining NECO’s mission of educational excellence in Nigeria.