Nearly two million candidates sitting the 2026 Computer Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination will face a toughened integrity framework, as the West African Examinations Council confirms it has overhauled its question serialisation system to shut out malpractice.

Amos Dangut, Head of the WAEC National Office, stated this on Monday at a news conference held at the council's national office in Yaba, disclosing that the examination is being sat by 1,959,636 candidates, comprising 958,564 males and 1,001,072 females, with female participation rising compared to previous years.

Dangut revealed that the council has strengthened its serialisation technology so that no two candidates receive questions in the same sequence, eliminating opportunities for collusion. "This innovation ensures that no two candidates have the same question sequence, thereby upholding the academic and moral integrity of the National Policy on Education," he stated.

The examination, which began on April 21 with practical papers, is scheduled to close on June 19, spanning eight weeks and three days. Results will be released 45 days after the final paper, with certificates issued within 90 days, including access to digital certificates through the council's official platform.

Dangut noted that adoption of the computer based format has grown considerably in 2026, following its successful debut in 2025 and backing from the Federal Ministry of Education. Schools in neighbouring countries offering the WAEC syllabus also opted into the format this cycle. "More schools have chosen the CB WASSCE option due to its seamless nature, alignment with global best practices, and the success of last year's edition," he said.

About 29,000 senior secondary school teachers, nominated by various state ministries of education, are deployed as supervisors across the country. Dangut warned that penalties would be applied to any candidate, supervisor, or school found culpable of malpractice, as sanctioned by the Nigeria Examinations Committee.

On security, Dangut acknowledged challenges in some parts of the country but confirmed that the council is working with the Nigeria Police Force, state governments, and other security agencies to maintain smooth conduct. He cautioned candidates, parents, and schools against engaging rogue websites and malpractice syndicates, adding that offenders would be tracked and prosecuted alongside law enforcement agencies.

"The council, in collaboration with the federal ministry of education, state ministries of education, the Nigeria Police Force, and other stakeholders, is fully prepared to deliver a credible CB WASSCE for school candidates 2026," Dangut stated.