NECO begins pilot CBT for SSCE, registers over 1.3 million candidates — highest ever
No fewer than 1,367,210 candidates are currently sitting the 2025 senior secondary certificate examination (SSCE) across Nigeria.
This is marking the first time the National Examinations Council (NECO) is introducing a dual mode of computer-based testing (CBT) and paper and pencil testing (PPT).
Of the total figure, 685,551 are male and over 681,300 are female candidates. Kano state recorded the highest number of registered candidates with over 137,000, while Kebbi state had the lowest with just above 5,000.
The Nigerian International School in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, registered the smallest with only eight candidates.
Ibrahim Wushishi, NECO registrar, announced the figures on Tuesday while monitoring the exam at SASCON International School, Maitama, Abuja — one of the pilot CBT centres.
The pilot marks NECO’s first step towards full CBT, following the directive from Tunji Alausa, the minister of education. that NECO and WAEC should fully adopt CBT by 2026.
Wushishi noted that although infrastructure challenges remain, NECO is committed to the transition.
“We may have challenges of infrastructure, but that will not stop us,” he said. “We are ready as a professional body. We are also calling on state governments to support us by providing CBT infrastructure,” he said.
He added that CBT will help reduce examination malpractice and improve the credibility of certificates globally.
Meanwhile, the Minister of education, who also monitored the exam, explained that future SSCEs would likely be conducted at approved CBT centres rather than students’ own schools, similar to the model used by JAMB.
“We have thousands of CBT centres nationwide, and these should be used beyond JAMB to serve WAEC and NECO too,” he said.
Alausa stressed that this would also create jobs, expand the digital economy, and encourage local innovation in software and hardware.
These are homegrown solutions. We should all be proud,” he said. “President Bola Tinubu is creating opportunities like this across sectors.”
The minister praised NECO for its pilot, calling it proof that the transition is achievable despite initial scepticism.
