Malpractice : Our exams can’t be computer-based for now —WAEC

THE West African Examination Council has ruled out the possibility of adopting Computer-Based Test (CBT) in the conduct of its examinations for now because of the complex nature of the test administration.
The Abuja Zonal Coordinator of WAEC , Mr Yusuf Ari, spoke on Thursday, at the National Stakeholders Dialogue on Examination Malpractice in Abuja.
He, however, said the council was doing a lot in the area of curbing examination malpractices.
Mr Ari said candidates taking WAEC examinations cover over 80 subjects as a result of the recent addition of new subjects to the list of available subjects by the Federal Government, adding that a lot of logistics and infrastructure would also be required if such mode was to be introduced.
According to him, the fact that the council’s examinations held in both urban and rural schools had also made the deployment of ICT difficult in the conduct of the examination.
The WAEC Zonal Coordinator, however, disclosed that the council was leaving no stone unturned to reduce the incidence of examination malpractice during the conduct of its examination to the barest minimum.
He explained that the stakeholders dialogue was being conducted nationwide.
According to him, people of high integrity were being deployed to handle the conduct of examination, which he said had helped to address the problem of examination malpractice.
Mr Ari emphasised the need for parents, teachers and other stakeholders’ need to do more to finally stamp out the problem of examination malpractice.
He said: “Infact, WAEC is looking at the possibility of introducing the computer-based system, but adequate facilities like sufficient computer systems, steady power supply, and other infrastructural provisions must be guaranteed for that to come to reality.
“WAEC examination is a very complex one. It may interest you to know that WAEC does not conduct examination in urban centres only. It penetrates through government and WAEC accredited schools in remote areas to conduct the examinations unlike in the case of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
“The examination body would not contemplate assembling candidates at a particular place, either in the local government headquarters or elsewhere for the examination because of the obvious peculiar nature of the examination.
“WAEC conducts examinations in over 80 subjects and many of them come in components. Infact, English Language comes in three components, consisting of practical, theory and oral as the case maybe.
“Moreover, experts in education assessment believe that removing somebody from his or her place of residence would psychologically and emotionally affect his or her performance, thus suggesting that the body maintain the mode of examination pending when adequate provisions are made for the successful take-off of the Computer-Based Test.”