FG announces new reforms to eradicate WAEC, NECO exam malpractice in 2026

Federal Government has announced a far-reaching package of reforms aimed at eradicating examination malpractice in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations beginning from the 2026 examination cycle.

The measures form part of broader efforts to strengthen the credibility, transparency and public trust in Nigeria’s assessment system.

According to a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Education, the new initiatives were unveiled by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, in collaboration with the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmed.

The statement noted that the Ministry is ramping up oversight and deploying targeted strategies to protect the integrity of national examinations.

A major highlight of the reforms is the introduction of advanced question randomisation and serialisation. Under this system, all candidates will answer the same examination questions, but the order and structure will vary for each student, ensuring that every candidate sits for a uniquely arranged version of the paper and significantly limiting opportunities for collusion.

The Ministry also restated its firm policy banning the transfer of candidates at the Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) level.

This directive, already circulated officially, will now be strictly enforced to curb last-minute school transfers that are often linked to examination malpractice.

In a bid to improve transparency and standardisation, new national Continuous Assessment (CA) guidelines have been developed for immediate implementation.

All examination bodies, including WAEC, NECO and NBAIS, are required to adhere strictly to uniform submission timelines for Continuous Assessment records:

First Term CA: January

Second Term CA: April

Third Term CA: August

The Ministry stressed that these deadlines are mandatory and designed to ensure consistency, data integrity and timely processing of assessment records nationwide.

Additionally, the Federal Government is introducing a unique Examination Learners’ Identity Number for all candidates. The identifier will allow authorities to track learners throughout the examination process, enhance monitoring and accountability, and support long-term reforms in assessment, certification and education data management.

The Ministers assured stakeholders that examinations will be conducted under tighter supervision, with improved coordination between the Ministry and examination bodies to ensure full compliance with established rules and ethical standards.

They emphasized that the new measures reflect the Federal Government’s determination to conduct examinations that are credible, fair and aligned with global best practices, while addressing Nigeria’s specific educational challenges.

The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with examination bodies, state governments, school administrators, parents and candidates to ensure the successful rollout of the reforms and the smooth conduct of the 2026 examinations across the country.