The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has expressed skepticism over the Federal Government's directive for examination bodies to transition to computer-based testing, stating that such a move would not effectively address examination malpractices in the country.
NUT National President, Comrade Audu Amba, voiced these concerns in response to the government's recent mandate that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) should fully implement Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for all examinations by 2026.
Government's CBT Directive
According to the directive, both multiple-choice and essay papers administered by WAEC and NECO will transition to computer-based formats beginning with the May/June 2026 examination cycle. WAEC is expected to commence conducting objective examinations via CBT starting in November 2025.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, who announced the decision, stated that the shift to CBT would enhance efficiency and reduce examination malpractices across the country.
Root Causes of Examination Malpractice
Amba, however, identified a different root cause for examination malpractices in Nigeria's education system. "We have placed more emphasis on certificates. What is your grade? What are your scores? Not minding the intellectual intelligence of that student," he explained.
The NUT president emphasized that society's excessive focus on paper qualifications drives students to pursue certificates at all costs, sometimes with parental support, even when they cannot defend their academic achievements.
"The students will go out of their way to make sure that they get the marks that will give them the certificate," Amba stated.
Infrastructure and Digital Literacy Challenges
The union leader highlighted significant infrastructure gaps that could hinder the successful implementation of computer-based examinations nationwide. "We are talking about CBT exams. Where is the light, manpower, and network? You see, we have a long way to go," he noted.
Amba pointed out the digital literacy gap among both teachers and students, particularly in rural areas. "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," he said.
He further illustrated the connectivity challenges in rural communities: "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."
The NUT president called for a more comprehensive approach to improving Nigeria's education sector, emphasizing the need for stakeholders to collaborate on addressing fundamental issues before implementing such technological transitions.
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