The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has dropped a bombshell, saying that a shift to computer-based examinations by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) will not eliminate malpractices.
The NUT National President, Comrade Audu Amba, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.
Amba was reacting to the recent directive by the Federal Government that WAEC and NECO should fully transit to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for their examinations by 2026.
NAN reports that by the directive, both multiple-choice and essay papers by the two bodies would be administered via computer, starting with the May/June 2026 examination cycle.
Specifically, WAEC is expected to begin conducting objective exams via CBT starting in November 2025.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who announced the federal government’s decision had said that switching to CBT for WAEC and NECO examinations would enhance efficiency, and reduce malpractices.
Amba, however, said that the major challenge with the nation’s education system which is encouraging malpractices, is the priority placed on paper qualifications.
According to him, because the society only recognises certificates and grades, the students will go the extra miles, some times, with the support of their parents to acquire them, even when they cannot be defended.
“We have placed more emphasis on certificate. What is your grade? What is your scores? Not minding the intellectual intelligence of that student.
“The students will go out of their ways to make sure that they get the marks that will give them the certificate,” he said.
Amba also underscored the need to address the digital literacy gap among students and teachers before implementing such policy, adding that this may require additional training programmes and resources.
“We are talking about CBT exams. Where is the light, manpower and network? You see, we have a long way to go.
“How many of our teachers in our localities are even computer literate? We don’t sit down within the city and give a directive that cannot be implemented.
“In my village, for instance, network ceases. You can’t get it until you get to a particular place., and so it is in many of our villages.
‘There are also some of our students that have not seen a computer before not to talk of operating it,” he said.
The NUT president reiterated that many things needed to be addressed first and and in time, before it could get to a level of CBT introduction.
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