The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, has announced the introduction of computer-based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) for school candidates, reaffirming its preparedness and readiness for the conduct of the examination across the country.

Amos Dangut, head of the Nigeria National Office of WAEC, made this known at a media briefing on the conduct of the WASSCE for school candidates, 2025 held on Thursday, April 17, at the council’s national office in Yaba-Lagos.

“As an organisation that believes in the use of modern Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to solve myriads of problems as well as improve service delivery to the Nigerian child, the council has introduced its maiden computer-based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) for school candidates.

“It will interest you to know that from this year, two candidates will not have the same questions on each number. We have adopted this innovation for some of the WASSCE codes. This initiative is part of the paradigm shift in the education sector, particularly, the adoption of current test administration techniques geared towards upholding the academic and moral integrity of the National Policy on Education and in line with the vision of the Federal Ministry of Education,” he said.

Dangut further explained that the WASSCE for school candidates, 2025 will take place between Thursday, April 24 and Friday, June 20, in Nigeria, spanning eight weeks and one day.

Speaking on the number of entries for the examination, he said that a total of 1,973,253 candidates from 23,554 schools have presented candidates for the examination.

Of this number, Dangut revealed that 979,228 candidates are males, amounting to 49.63 percent, while 994,025 candidates are females, which is 50.37 percent of the total candidature.

“The statistics show a further increase in the number of females and males, respectively, compared to last year. However, on the roll, the candidacy for this year increased by 158,627.

“The candidates would be examined in 74 subjects, made up of 196 papers. About 26,000 practising senior secondary school teachers, nominated by various ministries of education, would be participating in the examination as supervisors,” he said.

Moreover, Dangut emphasized that the council is not ignorance of the level of insecurity in the country. Hence, WAEC is collaborating with the Nigeria Police Force, and other security agencies to provide adequate security to ensure the smooth and hitch-free conduct of the examination.

“For instance, in a particular geopolitical zone, last year, during the conduct of the WASSCE for school candidates, 2024, there was a threat to a particular subject, but everything was later brought under control. “Conducting examinations in such situations have been challenging though surmounted. The council has continued to partner with the Nigeria Police Force through the Inspector General of Police and the various state governments to provide adequate security to ensure the smooth and hitch-free conduct of the examination,” he explained.

Besides, he reiterated that WAEC has zero tolerance for examination malpractice, stressing that the council has sanctioned more than 700 schools for misconducts.

“The council decisively deals with examination malpractice of any kind. The penalties for involvement in examination malpractice will always, without compromise, be meted out to erring candidates, supervisors, and schools, among others, as would be approved by the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC), which is the highest decision-making organ of the council that sits on examination matters in Nigeria.

“The council, on its part, has rolled out several awareness campaigns and organised seminars for school proprietors, principals, students and other key stakeholders through its branch and zonal offices nationwide to sensitize them on the effects of this evil,” he noted.

He warned all operators of rogue websites that WAEC will not condone their heinous acts during the conduct of this examination.

“Parents are hereby cautioned to desist from patronising these evildoers who are hell-bent on frustrating the efforts of WAEC. They should have nothing to do with them, as that would only lead to the destruction of their children’s destiny,” he said.