The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has intensified measures to protect the integrity of the 2026 Computer-Based WASSCE, as 1,959,636 candidates sit for the examination across Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

The Head of WAEC National Office, Amos Dangut, disclosed this during a news conference at the council’s national office in Yaba.

Dangut said that WAEC has strengthened its serialisation technology by ensuring candidates receive differently arranged questions, thereby reducing malpractice and preserving the integrity of examinations nationwide.

He said WAEC has equally strengthened its question serialisation system to ensure that candidates receive differently sequenced questions, reducing opportunities for collusion and malpractice.

He noted that the adoption of the computer-based examination has increased significantly this year, following its successful introduction in 2025 and strong support from the Federal Ministry of Education.

Dangut explained that several schools in neighbouring countries offering the WAEC syllabus also opted for the computer-based format, reflecting growing regional confidence in the system.

“This year, more schools have chosen the CB-WASSCE option due to its seamless nature, alignment with global best practices, and the success of last year’s edition,” he said.

The official noted that the examination, which began April 21 with practical papers, is scheduled to end June 19, adding, “It’s covering a period of eight weeks and three days”.

Dangut revealed that the 2026 entry figures include 958,564 male candidates and 1,001,072 female candidates, noting an increase in female participation when compared to previous years.

He also confirmed that about 29,000 senior secondary school teachers, nominated by various ministries of education, are serving as supervisors for the conduct of the examination nationwide.

“The council decisively addresses examination malpractice. Penalties will be meted out to erring candidates, supervisors, and schools, as approved by the Nigeria Examinations Committee,” he added.

On security, Dangut acknowledged ongoing challenges in some parts of the country but assured that the council is working closely with the Nigeria Police Force, state governments, and other security agencies to ensure smooth conduct.

He warned candidates, parents, and schools against engaging rogue websites and malpractice syndicates, stating that offenders would be tracked and prosecuted in collaboration with the law enforcement agencies.

According to Dangut, results will be released 45 days after the final paper, and certificates issued within 90 days, including access to digital certificates via its official platform.

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to a merit-based, transparent and inclusive admission system into tertiary institutions nationwide.

Ahmad stated this on Monday in Abuja at the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

The event also featured the sixth edition of the National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit (NATAP-M) Awards.

She commended JAMB for sustaining the annual policy meeting, describing it as a strategic platform for strengthening transparency, fairness and accountability in Nigeria’s admission process.

According to her, the policy meeting remains one of the most significant events in the nation’s education calendar.

She said it brings together key stakeholders to deliberate on admission guidelines, institutional capacities, quality assurance and equitable access to tertiary education.

“The meeting reflects our collective commitment to building an admission system that is merit-driven, inclusive, credible and responsive to national development goals.

“This policy meeting remains one of the most important events in our education calendar because it brings stakeholders together to discuss admission guidelines, school capacity and access to tertiary education,” she said.

Ahmad noted that expanding access to higher education must be balanced with maintaining standards, equity and integrity in the admission process.

She added that the ministry would continue to support reforms that promote transparency, efficiency and fairness while ensuring equal opportunities for Nigerian children to pursue tertiary education, regardless of gender, background or geographical location.

The minister stressed the importance of leveraging technology and innovation to eliminate admission irregularities and improve operational efficiency.

She also highlighted ongoing efforts by the ministry, in collaboration with regulatory bodies, to strengthen teacher education and empower colleges of education to award degree qualifications.

According to her, the initiative will improve teacher preparation and expand academic opportunities for students nationwide.

Ahmad further commended JAMB management and staff for reforms and technological innovations that had improved public confidence in the nation’s admission system.

She congratulated institutions and individuals recognised at the NATAP-M awards and urged them to sustain excellence and compliance with admission standards.

The minister also called on stakeholders to continue working together to build a tertiary education system that is globally competitive and accessible.

She said the system should produce graduates equipped with entrepreneurial skills, digital literacy and innovation capacity for national development.

By David Torough, Abuja

The Federal Government on Monday unveiled sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s tertiary admissions and examination system, declaring all admissions conducted outside the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) illegal, while also approving new pathways into Colleges of Education and agriculture-related programmes without the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The Minister of Education, Dr.

Tunji Alausa, who spoke at the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions in Abuja, warned that institutions bypassing CAPS would face stiff sanctions, including possible suspension of operating licences.

Alausa stressed that admissions conducted outside the approved framework would no longer be recognised by the government, insisting that the era of parallel admission systems had come to an end.

The minister said the reforms were aimed at restoring credibility, transparency and fairness to the nation’s tertiary education system, while ensuring deserving candidates were not denied opportunities through irregular processes.

As part of the new measures, JAMB fixed 150 as the minimum cut-off mark for admission into universities for the 2026 academic session.

The government also approved the exemption of candidates seeking admission into National Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes from sitting UTME, provided they possess at least four credit passes and register with JAMB for screening and processing through CAPS.

The exemption was extended to candidates applying for National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses in polytechnics.

According to Alausa, the policy seeks to widen access to tertiary education, reduce pressure associated with UTME, and boost enrolment in teacher education and agriculture programmes considered critical to national development.

The minister reaffirmed that 16 years remains the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions, noting that the decision balances inclusivity with academic readiness.

He also reiterated the government’s determination to combat examination malpractice through stricter verification systems, digital reforms and improved collaboration with examination bodies.

Meanwhile, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) announced tougher integrity measures for the ongoing 2026 Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), being taken by 1,959,636 candidates across Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

Head of WAEC National Office, Amos Dangut, said the council had strengthened its serialisation technology to ensure candidates receive differently arranged questions, thereby reducing opportunities for collusion and malpractice.

Dangut disclosed that the examination, which began on April 21, would end on June 19, adding that more schools adopted the computer-based format this year following the success of the 2025 edition.

WAEC also warned candidates, parents and schools against patronising rogue websites and examination syndicates, stressing that offenders would be prosecuted in collaboration with security agencies.