By Chimdiogo Amuh

The Federal Government has unveiled a comprehensive set of measures aimed at curbing examination malpractices from 2026 onward, particularly in examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO).

The new measures were disclosed in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education.

According to Boriowo, the initiative forms part of ongoing reforms designed to strengthen the credibility, transparency, and public confidence in Nigeria’s assessment and examination system.

She quoted the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, as saying that the ministry is intensifying oversight and deploying targeted strategies to protect the integrity of national examinations.

Among the key measures is the introduction of enhanced question randomisation and serialisation. Under the new system, all candidates will answer the same examination questions, but with different sequencing and arrangements, ensuring that each candidate receives a unique version of the paper and significantly reducing opportunities for collusion.

The minister also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s strict policy banning the transfer of candidates at the Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) level. He noted that the directive, already communicated through an official circular, would be strictly enforced to prevent last-minute school changes often linked to examination malpractices.

To further promote transparency, Alausa said new national guidelines on continuous assessment have been developed for immediate implementation. All examination bodies, including WAEC, NECO, and the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), are required to adhere strictly to standardised submission deadlines.

He explained that the submission window for first-term continuous assessment would be in January, while those for the second and third terms would be in April and August, respectively. The timelines, he said, are mandatory and aimed at ensuring consistency, data integrity, and timely processing of assessment records nationwide.

In addition, the ministry will introduce a unique Examination Learners’ Identity Number for all candidates. The identifier is expected to enhance learner tracking, improve monitoring and accountability, and support long-term reforms in examination administration, certification, and data management.

Alausa assured stakeholders that examinations would be conducted under strengthened supervision and in close coordination with relevant examination bodies to ensure strict compliance with established guidelines and ethical standards.

He added that the measures reflect the Federal Government’s commitment to conducting credible and fair examinations that align with global best practices while addressing Nigeria’s specific educational challenges.

The minister further reaffirmed the ministry’s readiness to work closely with examination bodies, state governments, school administrators, parents, and candidates to ensure the successful implementation of the new strategies and the smooth conduct of the 2026 examinations nationwide.