The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has said that the planned shift to computer-based testing (CBT) by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) will not, by itself, eliminate examination malpractices in the country.
NUT National President, Comrade Audu Amba, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, in response to a recent directive by the Federal Government that WAEC and NECO must fully transition to CBT for all examinations by 2026.
The directive, announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, mandates that both objective and essay-based papers will be conducted via computer, beginning with the May/June 2026 examination cycle. WAEC is expected to commence CBT for objective exams starting in November 2025.
Dr. Alausa stated that moving to CBT was aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the examination process and reducing instances of malpractice.
However, Comrade Amba argued that the root causes of examination malpractice lie beyond the mode of testing. He stressed that the current overemphasis on paper qualifications is a key driver of unethical behaviours among students, parents, and other stakeholders.
“We have placed more emphasis on certificates. What is your grade? What are your scores? Not minding the intellectual intelligence of that student,” Amba said.
He explained that this societal focus on grades and certificates compels students—sometimes with parental support—to pursue good results at any cost, regardless of whether they can defend their knowledge.
Amba further warned that a successful rollout of CBT would require significant groundwork, particularly in addressing gaps in digital literacy among students and teachers, as well as infrastructure deficits.
“We are talking about CBT exams. Where is the light, manpower, and network? You see, we have a long way to go,” he said.
He noted that many rural areas lack basic ICT infrastructure, adding: “How many of our teachers in our localities are even computer literate? We don’t sit down within the city and give a directive that cannot be implemented. In my village, for instance, network ceases. You can’t get it until you get to a particular place, and so it is in many of our villages. There are also some of our students who have not seen a computer before, not to talk of operating it.”
The NUT president called on stakeholders to take a comprehensive approach to reforming the education system, one that goes beyond introducing CBT.
“There is a need for relevant stakeholders to work together to improve the education sector for the betterment of the students and the nation,” he said.
