The Federal Government has announced plans to make participation in approved national examinations compulsory for all senior secondary school students in Nigeria from 2027, warning that schools and students who fail to comply could face serious consequences.
Under the proposed policy, all secondary schools, including private and international institutions, will be required to present their students for at least one recognised Nigerian examination before graduation.
The approved examinations include those conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), National Examinations Council (NECO), National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), and National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS).
The Federal Ministry of Education recently unveiled national guidelines on mandatory participation in an approved Senior Secondary School Qualifying Examination as part of efforts to strengthen standards and ensure uniformity in Nigeria’s secondary education system.
The development comes as the National Assembly moves to amend the National Senior Secondary Education Commission Act, a legislative step expected to reshape the regulation and administration of senior secondary education across the country.
Under the proposed arrangement, students who fail to sit for any of the approved national examinations could be denied admission into Nigerian universities.
Schools that disregard the directive also risk losing their operating licences, signalling the Federal Government’s determination to enforce compliance across both public and private educational institutions.
The policy, if fully implemented, will represent a major shift in Nigeria’s secondary education system, making recognised national examinations a compulsory requirement for students seeking to progress to higher education.
