The National Examinations Council (NECO) has officially declared the end of paper-and-pencil Senior School Certificate Exams (SSCE) starting November/December 2025.
Candidates across Nigeria will sit their exams on computers for the first time, as the exam body shifts fully to Computer-Based Examinations (CBE).
This decision aligns with the Federal Government’s push, announced in July 2025, to force all major exams—including WAEC and NECO—to digitize by 2026.
This move sparks heated debate
While NECO champions modernization and global competitiveness, the harsh realities of Nigeria’s infrastructural deficits and digital inequality raise serious doubts.
Is this upgrade a step forward or a risky gamble threatening the fairness of the nation’s educational assessments?
NECO’s Grand Shift: From Pencil to Keyboard
NECO announced it will switch from paper to computer-based exams starting 2025 November/December SSCE.
The council paints the transition as a leap toward credibility and efficiency.
However, many education stakeholders question whether the conditions on the ground truly support this sudden overhaul.
If schools and students lack reliable electricity, internet, and devices, how can this digital-only format be fair or practical?
NECO emphasized that private CBT centres and institutional facilities will play a major role in hosting exams.
Operators interested in providing CBT services must meet rigid and demanding technical and security standards to qualify.
Such benchmarks, while possibly essential for exam integrity, may exclude many centres unable to afford expensive upgrades.
Rigorous Requirements for CBT Centres: Are They Realistic?
NECO has listed strict CBT centre technical guidelines, including:
- Each hall must support a minimum of 150 fully functional computers or laptops, plus 10% backups.
- Computers require at least dual-core Intel processors, 4GB RAM, SSD storage, Windows 10, and major browsers.
- A robust central server must run all devices concurrently on a hardwired LAN network.
- Centres must have IP-based CCTV surveillance strictly cabled (no wireless), 24/7 internet connectivity via MTN or Airtel, and secure fencing with trained security personnel.
- Air-conditioned halls with internal toilets and backup power (minimum 40kva generator and UPS/inverters for three hours) are mandatory.
- Centres operating in shared or makeshift spaces such as cinemas or markets will be rejected.
- All electrical and data cables must be properly trunked and concealed to ensure safety and prevent tampering.
Additionally, NECO demands that personnel running these centres be persons of “high integrity” to maintain exam security and credibility.
A Controversial Push Amid Digital Divide
NECO claims that the new computer-based system will bring Nigeria’s secondary exams into the 21st century, enhancing credibility and efficiency.
However, this push has caused heated reactions nationwide.
Many critics accuse NECO and the government of ignoring Nigeria’s glaring digital infrastructure gaps.
Millions of students live in rural or underserved urban areas with shaky electric power and poor internet connectivity.
Even well-equipped schools sometimes suffer outages or unreliable service.
The severity of NECO’s standards will exclude numerous private and public centres lacking funds to upgrade facilities or buy costly equipment.
This raises concerns that access to exams may soon depend more on socio-economic status and geography than ever before.
Worse, student protests and teacher unions have warned that the phase-out of paper exams may lead to mass failure, especially for candidates unfamiliar with computers or without access to digital training.
The Human Cost of Digital Exams
Take the case of Chika, a bright Nigerian student from a remote community in Enugu state.
She excels academically but has never used a desktop computer, relying entirely on handwritten notes and books. Her school has no computer lab.
Chika’s family can barely afford a single smartphone.
The news of compulsory CBT exams terrifies her.
“How will I take an exam on a machine I don’t even know how to use? I fear this will make me fail, not because I am not smart, but because I am poor.”
Chika’s story is far from unique.
The rush to digitize exams appears disconnected from the day-to-day struggles of ordinary Nigerian families.
Full List of NECO’s Computer-Based Examination (CBE) Centre Requirements
NECO’s official document outlines the following:
System and Equipment Specifications:
- 150 computers with Intel dual-core processors, 4GB RAM, 32GB SSD minimum, Windows 10.
- 15-inch monitors for desktops or 17 inches for laptops.
- All systems linked via cabled LAN (no wireless connections).CBT centre CBT centre
- Updated antivirus software to ensure virus-free machines.
- Switches on uninterrupted power, with Gigabit switches and backups.
Hall Configurations:
- Individual candidate cubicles at least 26x18x18 inches, with proper seating.
- Functional air conditioning and lighting.
- Fully cabled CCTV with IP cameras for 24/7 monitoring.
- No exposed wires trunking is mandatory.
- Strong MTN or Airtel network coverage at the centre.
- Wall clocks clearly visible; wristwatches banned in halls.
- No shared or makeshift premises allowed.
Facilities and Personnel:
- Backup power generators (minimum 40kva) and UPS for three-hour capacity.
- At least two technical staff and one network engineer onsite.
- Staff must be trustworthy with high integrity.
- Internal toilets accessible within the hall.
- Adequate holding rooms and waiting facilities.
- Well-fenced centres with security personnel.
NECO’s Worrisome “New Era”
NECO calls this a “new era” and urges CBT centres nationwide to apply for accreditation.
Yet the sudden seriousness and logistical demands risk leaving many centres shut out.
Critics argue this plan was hastily conceived without sufficient pilot testing or public consultation.
The educational divide in Nigeria requires gradual, inclusive reforms—not sudden impositions that put marginalized students at risk.
The government should have addressed infrastructural and training gaps first.
Instead, the pressure mounts on students, parents, and teachers to adjust without clear preparations.
