The Federal Government has hailed the successful rollout of the National Examinations Council (NECO) Computer-Based Test (CBT) for the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), describing it as a major step towards strengthening examination integrity and accelerating digital transformation in Nigeria’s education sector.
The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, gave the commendation on Wednesday after monitoring the examination in Abuja, saying the exercise was conducted smoothly without technical disruptions.
She said the successful implementation of the CBT format demonstrated the government’s commitment to modernising the education system while promoting transparency and credibility in public examinations.
“I am impressed with the smooth conduct of the examination. We have not witnessed any technical disruption, and the feedback from candidates has been encouraging,” the minister said.
Professor Ahmad noted that the CBT system enhances the integrity of examinations by randomising questions, reducing opportunities for malpractice and ensuring that candidates are assessed strictly on merit.
“This is a major milestone in our efforts to strengthen examination integrity and advance digital transformation in education,” she said.
The minister assured Nigerians that the transition to computer-based examinations would be gradual and inclusive, stressing that no student would be disadvantaged because of inadequate infrastructure or limited access to technology.
“We are committed to expanding CBT nationwide, but we will do so in a gradual and inclusive manner. No student will be left behind in this transition,” she stated.
According to her, the Federal Ministry of Education is collaborating with the National Assembly, state governments and private sector partners to improve CBT infrastructure across the country and ensure equitable access for all candidates.
Also speaking, NECO Registrar, Professor Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi, disclosed that 1,378,048 candidates registered for the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination, including more than 700,000 female candidates.
“We expect to release the results by the first week of September 2026 or even earlier,” Wushishi said.
He expressed confidence in the examination process, noting that the successful deployment of the CBT platform marked another significant step in improving the credibility and efficiency of Nigeria’s examination system.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to leveraging technology to improve examination integrity, enhance learning outcomes and build a globally competitive education system.