By Jennete Ugo Anya
The federal government has proposed a harmonised timetable for major external examinations in 2027, with results expected by August to enable qualified candidates to begin tertiary admission processes in September.
The proposal brings together the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Examinations Council (NECO), the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) and the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS). It is intended to reduce timetable clashes, improve coordination among examination bodies and accelerate the release of results.
The Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, disclosed the development recently following a meeting convened by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, with heads and representatives of the examination bodies in Abuja.
“The meeting focused on aligning examination schedules, minimising timetable clashes, and ensuring the timely processing and release of results,” Folasade said.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of cases in which candidates have lost admission opportunities because examination results were released after institutions had closed their admission windows.
One reported instance involved candidates who failed some WAEC subjects but hoped to use their NECO results to secure admission into nursing schools. Some missed out because the institutions closed admissions weeks before NECO released its results.
The proposed calendar seeks to address such timing problems by coordinating examination schedules and aligning results with tertiary institutions’ admission timelines.
Under the proposed timetable, the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), conducted by JAMB, will hold from March 15 to 25, with results expected within the same month.
NECO’s Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) is scheduled for April 1 to May 14, while WAEC’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) will run from May 11 to June 18. Results for both examinations are expected in August.
NABTEB examinations are proposed for June 1 to July 5, while NBAIS examinations will hold from June 10 to July 9. Results from both bodies are also expected in August.
The Ministry said the proposal aligns with the education reform agenda of the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI).
It stated that engagements with the examination bodies would continue to strengthen accountability and secure compliance with the proposed timelines.
However, the success of the initiative will depend on consistent implementation by the examination bodies and effective coordination with tertiary institutions. Timely results alone may not eliminate missed admission opportunities if universities, polytechnics and colleges fail to align their admission schedules accordingly.
