By: Mandy Willy
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced plans to commence computer-based examinations, tagged CB-WASSCE, as part of efforts to curb examination malpractice and improve the integrity of its assessments.
The new system, which will combine both digital and manual features, is scheduled to take off next year with the current SS3 students across the country.
Speaking during a sensitization rally in Port Harcourt to educate stakeholders, students, and the public on the innovation, the Zonal Coordinator of WAEC, Port Harcourt Office, Adeniran Amusan, said the digitalization initiative aims to eliminate examination leakages, ensure timely conduct of exams, and enhance efficiency.
According to him, “The CB-WASSCE will eradicate the problem of logistics and late arrival of papers. The computer will also time the students, thereby ensuring fairness and transparency. It’s a hybrid system the objective questions will be done on the computer, while the essay and practical components will still be written manually on answer booklets.
”The essence is that students will not be sub changed, it is faster, there won’t be issues of logistics of late arrival of papers”.
Amusan noted that the move aligns with global best practices and will prepare students for technology-driven assessments in the future. He urged schools, teachers, parents, and students to embrace the new system as part of the modernization of education in Nigeria.
Some students expressed mixed reactions. While some hailed the initiative as a step toward modernization and digital literacy, others expressed concerns about their limited exposure to computer use.
Some however opined that the CBT exam will bring to end the issue of students who depends mainly on exam malpractices to pass their academic work.
Others pointed out that the CB-WASSCE will bring a new way of thinking and it’s going to modernize the society more.
