WAEC "We Will Not Be Adopting CBT"

The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has made it clear that it has no interest in adopting the computer-based test (CBT) as a method in conduct of its examination.

Yusuf Ari, the Zonal Coordinator of the examination body in Abuja, disclosed this, said the council will continue to stick with the traditional method, despite the fact that the CBT greatly reduces the chances of examination malpractices during the conduction of the the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Ari mentioned that the complex nature of the WAEC test and the spread of subjects it tests would make it difficult to adopt CBT.

He added that while the method can effective, it may not be considered until after adequate facilities such as sufficient computer systems, steady power supply and other infrastructural provisions are guaranteed.

“WAEC exam is a very complex one. It may interest you to know that the council does not conduct exams in urban centers only. It penetrates through government and WAEC accredited schools in remote areas, unlike JAMB.

“We conduct examinations in over 80 subjects and many of them come in components. In fact, English language comes in three components, consisting of practical, theory and oral as the case maybe,” he said.

According to him, “Experts in education assessment believe that removing somebody from his or her place of residence, would psychologically and emotionally affect his or her performance.”

He also noted that the deployment of ICT would be difficult under such setting.

Source: PulseNG