ABUJA, Nigeria (FN), The Federal Government has announced that the National Examinations Council (NECO) will begin conducting computer-based examinations (CBT) this year, starting with the November 2025 General Certificate Examination for private candidates and expanding fully to the May/June 2026 Senior Secondary Certificate Examination.
Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa said the reform is aimed at curbing malpractice, speeding up results, and aligning Nigeria’s education system with global standards. Candidates will no longer sit for exams in their schools but at accredited CBT centres nationwide.
However, educators and analysts warn that the success of the initiative is uncertain given the almost non-existent computer facilities in most public schools. Many rural schools lack electricity, internet access, or functional computer labs, raising concerns about equity and accessibility. Teachers’ unions have cautioned that without urgent investment, students from disadvantaged backgrounds may be excluded from the reform. “We welcome the modernization, but the reality is that most of our public schools do not even have basic computer labs. Unless government bridges this gap, the reform may fail,” said one secondary school principal in Plateau State.
NECO officials say they are deploying offline-capable software and mapping underserved areas to centralised hubs with solar or generator backups. They also plan to phase in essay papers gradually to ease students into typing answers.
Reactions have been mixed. Education stakeholders applauded the reform as a step toward restoring integrity in Nigeria’s examination system. Urban students welcomed the modernisation, while rural candidates expressed anxiety about access. On social media, hashtags like #NECOCBT and #DigitalExams trended, with debates over whether Nigeria’s infrastructure is ready for such a transition.
Analysts caution that the reform could widen inequality between urban and rural students if infrastructure gaps are not addressed. “Digital literacy is now essential, but the government must ensure that every child, regardless of location, has access to the tools needed to succeed,” said an education policy researcher in Lagos.
