New measures include unique candidate IDs, question randomisation, and continuous assessment tracking
The Federal Government has announced a series of sweeping reforms aimed at eliminating examination malpractice in public exams, beginning with the 2026 WAEC and NECO cycles.
The announcement, made on January 5, 2026, was released by the Federal Ministry of Education and signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.
According to the Ministry, the reforms were presented by Minister of Education Maruf Tunji Alausa and Minister of State for Education Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmed as part of a broader effort to enhance transparency, restore confidence in Nigeria’s public examinations, and strengthen the credibility of student certification.
Key Measures Introduced
- Question Randomisation and Serialisation: Candidates will still answer the same questions, but the order and arrangement of questions will differ for each student, making collusion significantly harder.
- Examination Learners’ Identity Number (ELIN): Each candidate will be assigned a unique identifier to track their exam journey, improve accountability, and support long-term reforms in certification and education data management.
- Mandatory Continuous Assessment (CA): Schools must submit first-term assessments by January, second-term by April, and third-term by August. This ensures ongoing monitoring of students’ performance rather than relying solely on final exams.
- Prohibition of Senior Secondary 3 Transfers: Transfers at this critical level will now be strictly enforced to prevent last-minute school changes, which are often linked to malpractice.
Strengthened Supervision and Coordination
The Ministry emphasized that examinations will be closely monitored in collaboration with WAEC, NECO, and other relevant bodies. Officials said the reforms aim to ensure exams are credible, fair, and aligned with international best practices, while addressing Nigeria-specific challenges in assessment and certification.
Why It Matters
Examination malpractice remains a persistent challenge in Nigeria. In 2025:
- WAEC withheld 192,089 results (9.75% of candidates), a slight improvement from 11.92% in 2024.
- NECO recorded 3,878 malpractice cases, down from 10,094 in 2024 — a 61.6% reduction.
- JAMB highlighted technology-assisted fraud in UTME, including AI-assisted impersonation and fingerprint manipulation, although only around 140 cases were confirmed.
The Federal Government’s new measures reflect a commitment to reforming the examination system and preventing the erosion of public trust in Nigeria’s educational credentials.
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