When the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) recently announced it had banned 574 secondary schools from conducting the 2025 WASSCE due to exam malpractice, the news sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s education sector. But beyond public outrage lies a deeper question: Can technology finally solve WAEC’s cheating crisis?
The scale of malpractice is staggering, and it’s not new. From “miracle centres” to coordinated cheating schemes, the ecosystem of exam fraud has grown more sophisticated over the years. But thankfully, so has technology—and that might just be WAEC’s best shot at restoring credibility.
Biometric Registration: The First Gatekeeper
Biometric verification, already used by JAMB for UTME candidates, ensures that the person registered for the exam is the one actually taking it. Fingerprint or facial recognition at entry points makes impersonation significantly harder.
WAEC has begun experimenting with this, but for real impact, biometric checks must be standardised across all centres, including rural ones. With over 1.9 million candidates registered for the 2025 WASSCE, robust identity verification is no longer optional—it’s essential.
Could CBT Be the Future of WASSCE?
WAEC has taken baby steps toward Computer-Based Testing (CBT), introducing it for private candidates in select locations. But could we see a full digital rollout in the future?
CBT exams reduce physical handling of question papers, limit leakages, and allow for real-time monitoring. They also discourage collusion, since question sets can be randomised per candidate.
Of course, rolling out CBT across over 23,000 schools comes with logistical challenges—power, connectivity, and infrastructure. But if JAMB can do it at scale, WAEC can too, with phased implementation and public-private partnerships.
Surveillance Tech: Watchers Watching the Watchers
AI-powered surveillance tools—already used in exams across Asia and parts of Europe—can flag suspicious behaviour during exams. From irregular head movements to prolonged eye contact between candidates, machine learning can support human invigilators, not replace them.
Additionally, equipping exam centres with basic CCTV and exam session audio recordings can serve as both a deterrent and a post-exam audit trail. Students—and schools—behave differently when they know they’re being watched.
Smart Exam Platforms and Blockchain?
In the future, WAEC could adopt secure, blockchain-based platforms that timestamp exam data, track submission histories, and eliminate backdoor result tampering.
Also, QR code-enabled question papers that activate minutes before the exam and self-destruct digitally after the session could make physical leaks almost impossible.
The Takeaway: Tech Can’t Do It Alone
Technology isn’t a magic bullet. It needs to be paired with policy reforms, educator training, and a cultural shift that values integrity over performance-at-any-cost.
But make no mistake—without tech, the fight is lost.
WAEC’s crackdown on 574 schools may grab headlines, but only systemic, tech-driven transformation will stop exam fraud from repeating in 2026, 2027, and beyond.
It’s time to stop patching holes—and start redesigning the system.
