The Federal Government has proposed a new examination timetable that would require candidates sitting the 2027 West African Examinations Council (WAEC), National Examinations Council (NECO) and other major external examinations to receive their results by August.
The plan is aimed at reducing delays in the release of examination results and allowing candidates to complete their secondary education requirements before the September admission process into tertiary institutions.
The Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday night.
According to the statement, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, presented the proposal during a meeting with heads and representatives of examination bodies at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting focused on harmonising examination schedules, preventing clashes between major examinations and ensuring that results were processed and released within agreed timelines.
Proposed Dates for JAMB, WAEC and NECO
Under the proposed timetable, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) would conduct the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) from March 15 to 25, with results expected to be released within the same month.
NECO’s Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) is scheduled to run from April 1 to May 14, while WAEC’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is proposed for May 11 to June 18.
Both examination bodies are expected to release their results in August 2027 under the proposed arrangement.
The timetable also places the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examination between June 1 and July 5, while the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) examination is scheduled for June 10 to July 9.
Results for the NABTEB and NBAIS examinations are also expected in August.
If adopted, the schedule would require the examination bodies to coordinate their activities and complete marking, processing and other necessary procedures within the proposed deadlines.
FG Seeks Better Coordination Among Examination Bodies
The Federal Ministry of Education said the initiative formed part of the education reform agenda of the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI).
The initiative is intended to improve efficiency, strengthen coordination among education agencies and support better learning outcomes.
The ministry said discussions with the examination bodies would continue to ensure compliance with the proposed timetable, promote accountability and align the release of results with tertiary admission schedules.
The Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, said it remained committed to reforms aimed at improving the education system and ensuring that students gain timely access to tertiary education.
What the Proposed Timetable Means for Candidates
The proposed August deadline is intended to give candidates and their parents greater certainty about the transition from secondary school examinations to tertiary admissions.
Late release of examination results can create difficulties for candidates who need their results to complete admission requirements. Aligning the examination calendar with the admission process could help reduce such disruptions.
However, the timetable remains a proposal, and its success will depend on the final arrangements agreed upon by the examination bodies and their ability to meet the deadlines.
The ministry is expected to continue engaging the relevant agencies to ensure that examination dates do not clash and that results are released in time for the next stage of students’ education.
