FG Targets August 2027 Release of WAEC, NECO Results

By James Ike

The Federal Government has proposed a harmonised timetable for major external examinations in 2027, targeting the release of results by August to facilitate the September admission process into tertiary institutions.

The proposed arrangement is aimed at ending delays in the release of examination results and ensuring that candidates can transition from secondary schools to universities, polytechnics and colleges of education without unnecessary disruptions.

The Director of Press and Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, disclosed this in a statement quoting the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, who spoke during a meeting with heads and representatives of examination bodies at the ministry's headquarters in Abuja.

According to the statement, the meeting focused on harmonising examination schedules, preventing clashes among major examinations and ensuring that results are processed and released within agreed timelines.

Under the proposed timetable, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will conduct the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) from March 15 to 25, with results expected to be released within the same month.

The National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) is scheduled to hold from April 1 to May 14, while the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is proposed for May 11 to June 18.

Results for both NECO and WAEC examinations are expected to be released in August 2027.

Similarly, the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examination is scheduled to run from June 1 to July 5, while the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) examination is proposed for June 10 to July 9.

Results from the NABTEB and NBAIS examinations are also expected to be released in August.

The proposed schedule is expected to require closer coordination among the examination bodies to ensure that examination processes, marking and result compilation are completed within the stipulated period.

The Ministry of Education said the initiative was part of the education reform agenda of the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI).

According to the ministry, the initiative seeks to improve efficiency, strengthen coordination among examination bodies and enhance educational outcomes.

It added that consultations with the examination bodies would continue to ensure compliance with the proposed timelines, promote accountability and align the release of results with tertiary admission schedules.

The Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, reaffirmed its commitment to reforms aimed at improving the efficiency of the education system and expanding timely access to tertiary education.

However, the timetable remains a proposal, with its successful implementation dependent on effective coordination among the examination bodies and their ability to meet the agreed deadlines.

If implemented, the arrangement could provide candidates and their parents with greater certainty in planning for tertiary education, while reducing the disruptions associated with delayed examination results.