The National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced that beginning with the November/December 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) External, all its exams will be conducted using a computer-based testing (CBT) system, effectively ending the long-standing paper-and-pencil format.
The transition aligns with the Federal Government’s earlier directive that by 2026, both privately-owned and public CBT centres would be fully deployed for the conduct of the school-based SSCE.
In a statement on Wednesday, NECO confirmed that it had rolled out strict technical, infrastructural, and security requirements for centres seeking accreditation. Each CBT centre must have at least 150 functional computers with 10% backups, robust servers, cubicles of approved dimensions, air-conditioned halls, CCTV surveillance with IP cameras, and strong MTN or Airtel internet connectivity.
The council stressed that only dedicated CBT centres would be approved, warning against makeshift arrangements. It also listed backup power supply of at least 40KVA generators and UPS/inverters with three-hour capacity, adequate toilets, fenced premises, and trained staff of proven integrity as mandatory conditions.
According to NECO, the move is aimed at improving the credibility, security, and efficiency of public examinations in Nigeria. It assured candidates and schools that the council was working to ensure a smooth transition, with guidelines now available to interested CBT operators.
The shift represents one of the most significant reforms in Nigeria’s examination system, promising to reduce malpractice while aligning the nation’s testing model with global standards in education technology.
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