In a major step to clamp down on examination malpractice, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced that no two candidates will sit for the same set of questions in selected subjects during the upcoming school certificate examinations.
This innovation was unveiled during a recent briefing for school principals, where WAEC confirmed that English Language (Papers 1 & 3), Biology 1, Mathematics 1, and Economics 1 will now feature customised question papers per candidate. Each student will receive a unique version of the paper, tailored specifically to them and paired with a matching OMR sheet.
This means that every candidate will tackle a distinct set of questions, effectively eliminating any possibility of copying or question leakages during the exams.
To manage unexpected occurrences, such as a missing customised paper, WAEC has directed that supervisors immediately provide an emergency question paper along with a plain OMR sheet to ensure the affected candidate is not disadvantaged.
The initiative signals a new era in Nigeria’s education sector—one where merit, integrity, and individual effort are paramount. Stakeholders have welcomed the development, describing it as a bold and overdue reform that will restore public confidence in the credibility of WAEC examinations.
Parents and guardians are also being called upon to adjust their support strategies. “Let’s all encourage our children to work extra hard, especially those in exam classes. Days of dependence on examination malpractice will soon be over,” an education official urged.
With the holidays underway, families are advised to help their children create conducive study environments. Where the home is not suitable for focused reading, efforts should be made to find quiet spaces elsewhere. Providing access to necessary study materials and offering moral support will be key as students prepare for this more rigorous and transparent examination process.
