The Federal Government has announced new measures to stop examination malpractice in WAEC and NECO exams starting from 2026. According to them, these steps are part of wider reforms to make exams more credible, transparent, and trusted by the public.
This was made known in a statement by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations, after a briefing by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmed.They said the Ministry of Education is strengthening supervision and putting new strategies in place to protect the integrity of national exams.
One major step is the introduction of improved question arrangement. Although all candidates will answer the same questions, the order of the questions will be different for each student. This means every candidate will have a unique question paper, making cheating and copying very difficult.
The Ministry also restated its ban on transferring students in SS3. This rule, already sent out through an official circular, will now be strictly enforced to stop last-minute school changes often linked to exam malpractice.
In addition, the government has introduced new national guidelines for Continuous Assessment (CA), which will take effect immediately. All exam bodies such as WAEC, NECO, and NBAIS must follow the same deadlines for submitting CA scores:
1. First Term: January
2. Second Term: April
3. Third Term: August
These deadlines are compulsory and are meant to ensure accuracy, uniformity, and proper record keeping nationwide.
Another new measure is the introduction of a unique Examination Learners’ Identity Number for all candidates. This number will help track students throughout the examination process, improve monitoring and accountability, and support future reforms in exams and certification.
The Ministers also assured Nigerians that exams will now be conducted under stricter supervision, with better coordination between the Ministry and examination bodies to ensure all rules and ethical standards are followed.
They said these measures show the Federal Government’s commitment to conducting fair and credible examinations that meet global standards while addressing Nigeria’s specific challenges.
The Ministry of Education added that it will continue working with examination bodies, state governments, school owners, parents, and students to ensure the smooth and successful conduct of the 2026 examinations across the country.