The Federal Government has set a bold three-year timeline to transition all O’ Level exams conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to computer-based testing (CBT) format.
This shift, announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, comes as part of the government’s broader effort to enhance the credibility and security of the nation’s educational assessments.
At a recent meeting in Abuja, attended by officials from NECO, WAEC, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and the Directorate of Senior Secondary Education, Alausa outlined the commitment to digitalizing the examination process.
The goal is to establish a more secure, efficient, and transparent testing system. The Minister’s announcement reflects a strong stance against examination malpractice, a significant challenge in Nigeria’s educational landscape.
In his remarks, Alausa emphasized that the move to CBT is essential for protecting the integrity of examinations.
A committee will be formed in January 2025 to address key issues such as exam leakages, identity theft, and fraud. This is a crucial step toward ensuring that students’ achievements are accurately and fairly represented.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad, voiced her concern over unethical practices, such as students pooling resources to access leaked answers via platforms like WhatsApp and schools bribing officials.
Such behaviors, she argued, undermine both the credibility of assessments and the ethical foundation of Nigeria’s educational system. Ahmad called for collective action to restore fairness and transparency, stressing the Ministry’s commitment to eliminating malpractice.
Educational Commentary:
The decision to implement CBT for NECO and WAEC exams is a much-needed reform in Nigeria’s education system. By modernizing the testing approach, the government aims to tackle lonanding issues like exam leakage and cheating, which have severely undermined the integrity of the nation’s educational qualifications. However, as an educator, I believe this transition must be handled with care to ensure that infrastructure and training are adequately addressed. While CBT offers numerous advantages in terms of security and efficiency, it is crucial that all schools, especially in rural and underserved areas, are equipped with the necessary technology and resources to ensure a level playing field.
Moreover, the government’s commitment to a three-year target is ambitious. It is vital that stakeholders—teachers, students, and administrators—are adequately prepared for the shift. This includes not only equipping students with the skills to navigate digital assessments but also ensuring that the transition process does not create undue barriers for those less familiar with technology.
The proposal is a step in the right direction for a more transparent and secure examination system, but it will require ongoing investment and collaboration from all sectors of the educational system. If executed effectively, this reform has the potential to raise the standards of education in Nigeria and restore public trust in the country’s examination processes.
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