The National Examinations Council has confirmed it will phase out the traditional paper-pencil method.

Beginning with the November/December 2025 SSCE External, all examinations will now be conducted using a full computer-based system.

The Federal Government in July revealed that privately-owned CBT centres and others belonging to public institutions would be fully deployed in the conduct of the school-based SSCE by 2026.

In a statement shared with newsmen on Wednesday, the Council said, “The National Examinations Council (NECO) has concluded arrangements to migrate from paper pencil to computer-based examination, starting from the 2025 November/December Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) External.”

To ensure a smooth rollout, NECO has invited “interested Computer-Based Centre Operators” across the country to apply for registration, subject to strict technical, infrastructural, and security requirements.

The examination body noted releasing its detailed guidelines on hall requirements, system standards, and security measures.

Among the mandatory specifications, each centre must have “a minimum of 150 functional computer systems/laptops with 10% backups,” robust servers, cubicles of specific dimensions, air-conditioned halls, CCTV surveillance with IP cameras, and reliable internet signals from MTN or Airtel.

The council also stressed that “make-shift CBT centres are not allowed; all centres must therefore be dedicated CBT centres that are used and maintained as such all year round.”

On security and integrity, NECO mandated that CBT staff must be of high moral standing: “The CBE centre personnel (including technical staff) should be dependable and trustworthy.

“They are to be men of high integrity that can ensure the credibility of the examination process.”

The Council emphasised that facilities must include “adequate backup power supply (minimum 40kva generator, UPS/inverters with at least three hours capacity), internal toilets, holding rooms for candidates, and fenced premises with adequate security.”

Here is a list of conditions for hall, system, personnel and facilities requirements: