"We will not roll out CBT in a way that excludes any student. Every child will have the opportunity to write their examination, regardless of location or infrastructure," Ahmad stated, addressing concerns about potential disparities. She appealed for patience from Nigerians, emphasizing that all concerns are being taken seriously to ensure a fair and equitable system when CBT is fully implemented. "By the time CBT is fully rolled out, no child will be put at a disadvantage," she assured.
The Promise of CBT: Efficiency and Integrity
The Minister highlighted the significant improvements that the CBT transition promises, acknowledging the technical and infrastructural hurdles that must first be overcome. During her visit, she drew a direct comparison between the traditional paper-based exams and CBT, noting a clear preference among students for the latter.
"From my interaction with the students, they are happy with the CBT examination and actually show preference for it over the written method," Ahmad observed. She recounted a stark contrast: a CBT center where everything was orderly and timely, versus a paper-based exam center where the examination was delayed by rain and even the scripts were not readily available. "These are the kinds of issues CBT is designed to eliminate," she stressed. CBT is expected to guarantee that students receive their full allotted exam time, as the system only begins counting once the student accesses the questions, thereby mitigating problems caused by weather, transportation issues, and administrative lapses.
Tackling Malpractice and Logistical Hurdles
Beyond enhancing efficiency, Prof. Ahmad underscored CBT's potential as a robust solution to the pervasive issue of examination malpractice. With individualized sets of questions for each candidate, the minister believes that impersonation, question leaks, and systemic answer sharing will be drastically reduced. "We know how students and schools manipulate the system, but CBT will shut those doors," she affirmed.
However, the Minister candidly acknowledged that the transition would inevitably face significant logistical hurdles, particularly in rural areas where electricity and internet infrastructure remain weak. To address these gaps, WAEC and NECO are reportedly collaborating closely with JAMB and other education stakeholders.
The plan involves leveraging JAMB’s existing, well-equipped CBT centers for future examinations. Additionally, the ministry intends to engage with state governments to thoroughly map out both rural and urban challenges, aiming to design workable and sustainable solutions. "When we roll out the CBT examination, we are going to make use of existing JAMB centres. We are not going to make use of school centres, since as you rightly mentioned, there are schools in the rural locations that don’t have light," Ahmad explained. She cited a specific example from her inspection: "This school we are currently inspecting has no power in the exam hall. If CBT were being conducted here today, that would pose a serious challenge."
Prof. Ahmad concluded by reiterating the meticulous planning underway. "So all these are being considered and we are carefully planning to ensure that really when we embark on this CBT, no student is at a disadvantage," she emphasized, signaling the government's determination to achieve a smooth and equitable transition to digital examinations across Nigeria.