Patrick Togun
Member
Federal Government Releases New Operational Guidelines for WAEC and NECO Students’ Assessment Scores
Monday, August 24, 2026.
The Federal Government has officially issued new uniform national Continuous Assessment (CA) guidelines, mandating examination bodies—including the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO)—to establish secure and interoperable student CA portals linked to the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI).
This policy applies to all public and government-approved private secondary schools across the nation and requires the use of National Learner Identity Numbers (NLIN) that are linked to the National Identification Number (NIN) for every student.
Additionally, the guidelines introduce mandatory termly submission deadlines for Continuous Assessment data, along with penalties for non-compliance. Under this new mandate, schools will no longer have the flexibility to upload CA data at their convenience; instead, portals will open and close according to specific nationwide deadlines.
Beginning with the 2026/2027 academic session, schools are required to upload first-term CA records by January, second-term records by April, and third-term records by August. This structural change aims not only to enhance data integrity but also to prevent schools from retroactively manipulating or falsifying student scores prior to final examinations, thereby directly addressing examination malpractice.
In a recent meeting with stakeholders—including state commissioners for education, school owners, administrators, examination bodies, and other educators—the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, underscored the government’s commitment to reforming the nation’s education sector to enhance its global competitiveness.
According to the new guidelines, all licensed schools and national examination bodies must adhere to these policies or face severe penalties, including suspension or blacklisting. Grounds for suspension may include examination malpractice, non-compliance with registration directives, misrepresentation of learners, and fraudulent submissions of Continuous Assessment data.
Furthermore, under the new directive, student transfers between schools must be formally processed through the established system. The guidelines stipulate that the portal must enable schools to initiate and confirm learner transfers by submitting requests that receiving institutions can either accept or reject. This process will ensure that student records on the examination portal are automatically updated, carrying over all past CA data. Consequently, CA data is tied to the learner and will follow them across institutions; no school has the authority to unilaterally delete or alter a student’s historical CA records.
Suspended schools will also face stringent repercussions. According to the guidelines, any institution that is suspended will have its CA portal immediately blocked, and its students will be automatically flagged as “orphaned.” Additionally, the relevant examination bodies are required to notify the host state’s Ministry of Education within two days of any suspension.
Affected students will subsequently be transferred to nearby accredited schools or approved temporary examination centres established by the examination body, ensuring that their CA records remain intact.
Historically, both WAEC and NECO encountered challenges in utilizing students' Continuous Assessments from SS1 to SS3 in determining final grades for school-based examinations. The Federal Ministry of Education will not only issue policy directives but will also monitor compliance through its Basic and Senior Secondary Departments, providing oversight and intervention as necessary.
The guidelines will be subject to review after one year of implementation to address any challenges that may arise.
Monday, August 24, 2026.
The Federal Government has officially issued new uniform national Continuous Assessment (CA) guidelines, mandating examination bodies—including the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO)—to establish secure and interoperable student CA portals linked to the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI).
This policy applies to all public and government-approved private secondary schools across the nation and requires the use of National Learner Identity Numbers (NLIN) that are linked to the National Identification Number (NIN) for every student.
Additionally, the guidelines introduce mandatory termly submission deadlines for Continuous Assessment data, along with penalties for non-compliance. Under this new mandate, schools will no longer have the flexibility to upload CA data at their convenience; instead, portals will open and close according to specific nationwide deadlines.
Beginning with the 2026/2027 academic session, schools are required to upload first-term CA records by January, second-term records by April, and third-term records by August. This structural change aims not only to enhance data integrity but also to prevent schools from retroactively manipulating or falsifying student scores prior to final examinations, thereby directly addressing examination malpractice.
In a recent meeting with stakeholders—including state commissioners for education, school owners, administrators, examination bodies, and other educators—the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, underscored the government’s commitment to reforming the nation’s education sector to enhance its global competitiveness.
According to the new guidelines, all licensed schools and national examination bodies must adhere to these policies or face severe penalties, including suspension or blacklisting. Grounds for suspension may include examination malpractice, non-compliance with registration directives, misrepresentation of learners, and fraudulent submissions of Continuous Assessment data.
Furthermore, under the new directive, student transfers between schools must be formally processed through the established system. The guidelines stipulate that the portal must enable schools to initiate and confirm learner transfers by submitting requests that receiving institutions can either accept or reject. This process will ensure that student records on the examination portal are automatically updated, carrying over all past CA data. Consequently, CA data is tied to the learner and will follow them across institutions; no school has the authority to unilaterally delete or alter a student’s historical CA records.
Suspended schools will also face stringent repercussions. According to the guidelines, any institution that is suspended will have its CA portal immediately blocked, and its students will be automatically flagged as “orphaned.” Additionally, the relevant examination bodies are required to notify the host state’s Ministry of Education within two days of any suspension.
Affected students will subsequently be transferred to nearby accredited schools or approved temporary examination centres established by the examination body, ensuring that their CA records remain intact.
Historically, both WAEC and NECO encountered challenges in utilizing students' Continuous Assessments from SS1 to SS3 in determining final grades for school-based examinations. The Federal Ministry of Education will not only issue policy directives but will also monitor compliance through its Basic and Senior Secondary Departments, providing oversight and intervention as necessary.
The guidelines will be subject to review after one year of implementation to address any challenges that may arise.