The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has issued a cautionary statement alleging that the adoption of computer-based tests in the upcoming West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) could result in widespread failure, especially in Northern Nigeria.
As reported by SaharaReporters, AYCF’s National President, Yerima Shettima, stressed the need for the examination body to reconsider the CBT format or offer it as an optional choice.
Shettima highlighted the lack of computer skills, ICT infrastructure, and understanding among students in most Northern secondary schools as the primary concerns.
Expressing that the CBT exams should have been voluntary, Shettima emphasized the importance of allowing students to opt for either the traditional pen-and-paper style or the computer-based method, catering to their comfort and capability.
AYCF’s research in various Northern states revealed consistently misleading failure rates in public schools due to the absence of computer education.
“Even the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board CBT exams have placed underprivileged students in a predicament as they struggle to answer questions in a format they are unfamiliar with.
“Many students who failed the CBT-based JAMB exams last year argued that their failures were a result of systemic failures, including insufficient facilities or network failures during the exams. Additionally, a lack of proper and adequate computer skills, coupled with outdated desktop computers that are not properly maintained by CBT centres further exacerbate the situation,” he explained.
Shettima stressed the urgency of this call to prevent a potential surge in failure rates among deserving students, advocating for fair and equal opportunities.
It would be that in September 2023, MUK TV had reported that WAEC disclosed its intention to employ the Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode for examinations.
