The National Examinations Council (NECO) has stated that migrating from paper-based to computer-based tests (CBT) is a complex issue due to the complexity of its examinations.
Registrar Ibrahim Wushishi made this statement during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.
Wushishi explained that NECO assesses candidates in a wide range of subjects, making it challenging to adopt CBT immediately. He compared NECO’s situation to that of JAMB (Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board), which has successfully implemented CBT, but noted that JAMB’s examinations are less complex, with fewer subjects and multiple-choice questions.
NECO, on the other hand, examines around 1.5 million candidates in 76 different subjects and over 150 different papers, including essays, which require a more nuanced approach.
Wushishi emphasized that experts need to carefully consider the intricacies of the exams before transitioning to CBT.
While stakeholders in the education sector have called for a review of the laws governing NECO to incorporate emerging technologies, the council is taking a cautious approach, ensuring that any changes do not compromise the integrity and quality of its examinations.