The National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced that beginning with the November/December 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) External, all exams will be conducted strictly through Computer-Based Testing (CBT), ending the era of paper-and-pencil assessments.
The move comes as part of the Federal Government’s plan to fully adopt CBT for both school-based and external SSCEs by 2026, using both private and public-owned centres.
In a statement on Wednesday, NECO confirmed that arrangements have been completed for the migration to CBT and called on qualified CBT centre operators nationwide to apply for accreditation.
Technical and system requirements
To be approved, centres must meet rigorous standards. Each must provide at least 150 functional computers or laptops with 10% backups, all connected via a cabled Local Area Network (LAN) in star topology. Wireless networks are prohibited.
Other requirements include:
- Gigabit switches with two backups.
- Servers capable of supporting 150 systems at once.
- Desktops with monitors of at least 15 inches, laptops with 17 inches minimum.
- Up-to-date antivirus software.
Examination hall specifications
NECO also listed physical requirements for CBT halls:
- Each candidate must have a cubicle at least 26 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 18 inches high.
- Proper seating, lighting, and air conditioning.
- Functional IP CCTV cameras (no wireless CCTV allowed).
- All cables properly trunked—no exposed wiring.
- Wall clocks must be provided, since wristwatches will be banned.
The Council further ruled out makeshift arrangements, stating only dedicated, year-round CBT centres will be approved.
Security and infrastructure
Centres must also have:
- A backup generator (40kva minimum) plus UPS/inverters that last at least three hours.
- Adequate fencing with stationed security personnel.
- Internal toilets and a holding room for candidates.
- Strong MTN or Airtel network signals.
- Facilities cannot be located in malls, markets, or cinemas.
Personnel requirements
Every centre must provide two technical staff and one network engineer, alongside credible exam personnel. NECO emphasized that all staff must be trustworthy individuals of high integrity to guarantee exam credibility.
With these measures, NECO says it aims to ensure a smooth and secure transition into the digital era of Nigerian examinations.
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