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According to the forum, introducing such a mode of
examination will result in mass failure for students, particularly in rural
areas where computer skills are scarce or completely absent.
The West African Examinations Council announced that it had
ditched the paper and pencil test model and has adopted the Computer-Based Test
mode for the conduct of the Senior School Certificate Examination.
This was contained in a statement signed by the acting head
of the Public Affairs Unit of WAEC, Moyosola Adesina.
She claimed that it was in line with global best practices
and informed all its stakeholders that it had concluded plans to migrate its
WASSCE for Private Candidates Examination Diets from Paper and Pencil Tests to
Computer Based Examinations.
The National President of AYCF, Yerima Shettima, in a
statement released in Kaduna on Friday, said the CBT exams should have been
optional, allowing candidates to choose between the traditional pen-and-paper
format and the computer-based approach.
This, he argued, would have given students the opportunity
to opt for the format they were most comfortable with and capable of attempting
successfully.
Shettima added that research conducted by the forum in
selected northern states such as Zamfara, Jigawa, Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa,
and Plateau, revealed that the CBT exams had consistently led to misleading
failure rates among students attending public schools, where computer skills
were often not taught.
He said, “Even the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board
– CBT exam has placed underprivileged students in a predicament as they
struggle to answer questions in an unfamiliar format.
“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skills, coupled with outdated desktop computers that are not properly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 exacerbated the situation.
“As the exams are timed, these delays significantly hinder
the performance of students who otherwise possess sufficient knowledge of the
content.”
He, therefore, called on the Ministry of Education, Jama’atu
Nasril Islam, Christian Association of Nigeria, National Association of
Nigerian Students and other relevant Civil Society Organisations to unite and
reject the planned CBT exams.
He noted that the call became imperative to prevent a
massive failure rate among students who deserved fair and equal opportunities
for success.
“The AYCF remains committed to promoting quality education,
equitable examination processes, and the overall advancement of education in
Nigeria. We stand ready to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to find
suitable alternatives that ensure a level playing field for all students,” he
added.