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The Registrar and Chief Executive of the National Examination Council (NECO), Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, announced that the organization is prepared to implement a Computer-Based Test (CBT) for the November/December Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) aimed at private students.
Wushishi emphasized the importance of an awareness campaign to engage stakeholders with this new method for SSCE examinations, mentioning that NECO has been actively promoting this during town hall meetings with stakeholders across various states.
During an online dialogue series organized by the Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (EWAN), themed “CBT for SSCE: Is Nigeria Ready?”, he pointed out that there are over 2,000 CBT centers nationwide, in addition to those operated by the National Open University in every state and some local councils.
He also noted that NECO is assessing schools to correspond with these available CBT centers, allowing for better access to these testing facilities.
Director of Senior Secondary Education, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, remarked that examination bodies, including the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), possess the necessary resources to carry out CBT exams.
She revealed that a committee called the Improvement of Public Examinations in Nigeria, led by Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), is addressing these matters and will soon provide a report.
Abdulkadir assured that the examination bodies and the ministry would internally explore ways to initiate this new process; however, she underscored the need for punitive measures against those undermining examinations, advocating for the revival of strict laws against exam malpractices if they are currently lacking. Participants in the meeting expressed diverse opinions.
Dr. Adunola Osoba suggested that the rollout of CBT centers should be phased, stating: “It is achievable. There should be extensive sensitization for stakeholders, especially candidates.”
Another participant, AbdulRasheed Rabana, expressed that Nigeria cannot transition to CBT without addressing its current examination methods, stating: “Consider if we conduct practicals, oral exams, and essay exams? The only type of exam suitable for CBT is our multiple-choice format.”
