The Federal Government(FG) has successfully piloted a Computer-Based Test (CBT) for candidates seeking admission into Federal and State Technical Colleges, marking a significant step in its broader effort to modernise Nigeria’s examination and education systems.
The pilot exercise was conducted alongside the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination for technical colleges across the country, with education authorities describing the initiative as a major milestone in the government’s digital transformation agenda.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, the ministry said the examination was conducted smoothly nationwide under the coordination of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board.
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According to the ministry, the exercise took place across designated centres, including the Federal Technical College, Orozo, and Government Secondary School, Garki, in Abuja, where officials monitored candidates and assessed the effectiveness of the new digital system.
Representing the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Director of Technology and Science Education, Mrs Patricia Ogungbemi, supervised aspects of the exercise and encouraged candidates to embrace technical and vocational education as a pathway to innovation, entrepreneurship and employment.
She noted that technical colleges remain critical to the government’s strategy of producing a skilled workforce capable of supporting industrialisation and economic development.
Ogungbemi said students who pursue technical and vocational education benefit from hands-on training, industry-relevant competencies and opportunities linked to government-backed programmes aimed at job creation and youth empowerment.
A key feature of the exercise was the pilot CBT session conducted immediately after the conventional paper-based examination.
“The initiative was designed to assess readiness for the future transition to a fully computer-based examination system,” the ministry stated.
It added that the successful conduct of both the traditional examination and the CBT pilot demonstrated the government’s commitment to strengthening assessment integrity, expanding access to quality technical education and leveraging technology to improve learning outcomes.
The development comes amid a broader push by the Federal Government to digitise public examinations and educational processes. Education authorities have increasingly advocated the use of technology-driven assessments to reduce examination malpractice, improve efficiency and accelerate result processing.
The renewed focus on technical and vocational education reflects growing concerns about youth unemployment and the need to equip young Nigerians with practical skills that align with labour market demands.
Experts argue that strengthening technical colleges could help bridge the country’s skills gap, boost productivity and support sectors such as manufacturing, construction, technology and renewable energy.
The Ministry of Education said lessons from the pilot exercise would help shape future decisions on transitioning technical college entrance examinations to a fully digital format.
With the successful test run completed, attention is expected to shift toward infrastructure readiness, internet connectivity, power supply and digital literacy requirements needed to support a nationwide rollout of CBT-based examinations for technical college admissions.
