In a bold stride towards restoring integrity in the West African education system, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has unveiled a revolutionary initiative — the introduction of customised question papers for individual candidates.
This historic policy was revealed during a strategic briefing with secondary school principals across the region. According to WAEC, the new system is designed to disrupt examination malpractice by ensuring no two candidates receive the same set of questions in select key subjects.
The rollout will affect English Language (Papers 1 & 3), Biology 1, Mathematics 1, and Economics 1, where each candidate will be issued a uniquely generated question paper directly tied to their personalised OMR sheet.
WAEC officials explained that this innovation demands high-level compliance from exam supervisors. In instances where a candidate’s personalised paper is not available, supervisors are instructed to promptly issue an emergency version of the paper, accompanied by a plain OMR sheet.
This strategy targets the roots of malpractice — including collusion, impersonation, and question leaks — that have undermined the credibility of WAEC examinations over the years.
“This move is a game-changer,” a senior WAEC official stated. “We are sending a clear message: organised cheating rings and the era of leaked exam questions are coming to an end.”
Education stakeholders are now calling on parents, guardians, and teachers to intensify support for students. A Lagos-based teacher advised, “Let’s begin to prepare our children for this new era. The days of relying on shortcuts and illegal assistance during examinations are fading. Students must return to the basics of hard work and consistent study.”
Parents are also encouraged to provide conducive learning environments at home or seek alternative study spaces for their wards, especially during this holiday period. Ensuring access to updated textbooks, study guides, and emotional support is now more crucial than ever.
As the region prepares for this landmark shift, WAEC’s move signals a renewed commitment to excellence, academic fairness, and credibility in public assessments across West Africa.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.
