The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, has assured Nigerians that no student, whether in urban or rural areas, will be left out in the ongoing transition to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for national examinations.
Professor Ahmad gave the assurance on Tuesday while monitoring the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at selected schools in Abuja.
“We will not implement CBT in a manner that excludes any student. Every child, regardless of their location or access to infrastructure, will have the opportunity to sit their examinations,” she stated.
Addressing concerns raised by stakeholders, the Minister called for public understanding and cooperation, noting that the government is working to ensure a smooth and inclusive transition.
“Nigerians should bear with us. We are taking all concerns seriously. When the CBT is fully rolled out, no child will be placed at a disadvantage,” she affirmed.
Professor Ahmad outlined the advantages of CBT, emphasising that it addresses many of the challenges associated with traditional paper-based examinations.
“From my interaction with students, many prefer the CBT format. At one centre we visited, the exam was conducted in an orderly manner and began on time. In contrast, at a paper-based centre, the exam was delayed due to rainfall and scripts were not even available,” she explained.
She highlighted that CBT provides more reliable and timely assessment, eliminating common issues such as weather-induced delays, transportation setbacks, and administrative inefficiencies.
“CBT ensures that students receive their full allotted time, as the countdown only starts once the student logs in and accesses the questions,” she noted.
In addition to improved timing and logistics, the Minister pointed out that CBT helps curb examination malpractice.
“With each candidate receiving a unique set of questions, it becomes more difficult to leak papers or impersonate candidates. CBT will close many loopholes that are currently exploited in conventional exams,” she said.
However, the Minister acknowledged that infrastructural challenges—especially in rural communities where power supply and internet connectivity are limited—could hinder implementation.
To address these concerns, she revealed that WAEC and NECO are collaborating with JAMB and other education stakeholders to leverage existing infrastructure and find practical solutions.
“When CBT exams are rolled out, we intend to use existing JAMB centres rather than relying on individual school facilities—particularly in rural areas where some schools don’t even have electricity,” she said. “For instance, this school we inspected today lacks power in its exam hall. Conducting a CBT exam here today would have been impossible.”
Professor Ahmad reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring no child is left behind, stressing that comprehensive planning and collaboration with state governments are central to the strategy.
“We are mapping out the specific needs of both rural and urban areas to design realistic and inclusive strategies,” she concluded.
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