On Monday, WAEC, in a statement, announced that the
innovation would commence with WASSCE for private candidates, 2024 first
series.
It added that it was the vision of the Council that in the
near future, all its examinations would be delivered via the computer.
However, the Secretary-General, NUT, Dr Mike Ike-Ene, argued
that the Nigerian basic education sector was not ready and prepared for the
proposed CBE.
Speaking with our correspondent, Ike-Ene, argued lack of
computers in schools, a lack or poor electricity supply, and unstable Internet
networks would likely hamper the CBE being proposed by WAEC.
“Nigerians don’t have to roll out policies because it sounds
good. The NUT can never tell you it does not know the importance of ICT but
there is a big challenge about this WAEC CBE. If you are assuming the schools
in Nigeria all have connections, you will be shocked; most are not. Making
decisions hastily is not the best, we are quick at copying things that won’t
work.
“I tell you for free that it won’t work. We talked about
insecurity in our schools, and for schools that are well-equipped, how do they
cope with securing these things? How much will be given to a principal to
repair computers? The issue of a poor
Internet network is there. I can say it is the best thing that can happen in
Nigeria but before we go paperless, you must be computer literate. A school
that doesn’t get imprest, if a computer breaks down, how do they repair it?
Will you ask the students to contribute (money) for the repair?
“How will the village boy and girl who have not seen a
computer before cope? I don’t think the idea can sell for now. If WAEC goes
ahead we will kick against it, we can even go on strike for it. Whoever
suggested it has plans to fail Nigerian students. We are highly against it.”
While reacting to the plans of WAEC to take the CBE to only
urban centres for now, while the rural areas that couldn’t afford the ICT
gadgets for the smooth running of CBE, Ike-Ene, added that “They are creating
division, of the bourgeois and others. They can have a plan that says from 2024
till the next five years, let’s make sure the schools have computers. But if
there is no security, someone will cart them away. Nigeria is vast, you have to think about
those you are making the policy for.”
But the National President, All Nigeria Conference of
Principals of Public Schools, Mr Musa Ibrahim, applauded the introduction of
CBE for private candidates by WAEC.
He said, “The use of CBE for WASSCE is doable. We are moving
into the digital world and any innovation that will add value is good. This is
the pilot, which will be used to look at the pros and cons. This is done
globally and WAEC does not want to be left behind.”
He reiterated that it would work well since WAEC already
said it would be used in the urban centres first.
“Gradually, it will transcend to the school-based candidates
and it will help curtail the issue of examination malpractice,” Ibrahim said.
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