The National Examinations Council (NECO) has implemented reforms to tackle examination malpractice and continuous assessment racketeering, aiming to strengthen the integrity of its examinations. According to NECO Registrar, Professor Dantani Wushishi, these reforms have contributed to a 64.74% reduction in malpractice cases in the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal. The number of candidates involved in malpractice dropped from 3,878 in 2025 to 1,406 in 2026.
Wushishi attributed the reduction in malpractice cases to the deployment of technology in examination administration, including biometric verification, candidate photo-gating, barcode systems, computer-based testing (CBT), and randomization of examination questions. NECO began intensifying the application of information and communication technology (ICT) in examination management after the current leadership assumed office in 2021. The council has introduced several IT solutions to curb examination malpractice.
NECO has introduced technology at various stages of the examination process, from test development to the conduct and marking of examinations. CBT is one of the major measures helping to reduce malpractice, with the council also randomizing questions to make it difficult for candidates sitting close to one another to answer identical questions. This approach is applied to a large number of subjects conducted under the pen-and-paper mode.
A significant number of malpractice cases were detected during the marking of examination scripts by examiners. To address loopholes in continuous assessment, which constitutes part of candidates' final results, NECO has developed a continuous assessment portal integrated into its main website. This portal enables schools to submit scores electronically, preventing schools from altering scores after submission.
The Minister of Education's committee, comprising heads of examination bodies, reviewed the challenges associated with continuous assessment and recommended measures to reduce manipulation. The committee recommended that the contribution of continuous assessment to candidates' final scores be reduced from 30% to 20%. Additionally, continuous assessment scores should no longer be submitted as a single cumulative figure.
NECO has consequently developed a system to verify the qualifications of teachers engaged in marking its examinations through the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). Schools will provide details of teachers during the accreditation process, including information on whether they possess TRCN certification. This information will be cross-checked through an interface between the NECO and TRCN portals.
Wushishi dismissed claims that NECO establishes or operates "miracle centres," stressing that the council only accredits schools that meet its requirements to conduct its examinations. NECO has mechanisms for identifying centres suspected of facilitating examination malpractice and conducts accreditation exercises to ensure that schools continue to meet the required standards.
Key points
- NECO introduces technology to curb examination malpractice and strengthen integrity of its exams
- Continuous assessment scores to be submitted electronically to prevent manipulation
- NECO dismisses claims of establishing or operating "miracle centres"
