NECO: Over One Million Candidates Commend FG’s CBT Initiative

Candidates currently sitting for this year’s National Examination Council, NECO, examination have described the Computer Based Testing, CBT , as an efficient and effective way of eliminating Examination malpractice by the Federal Government.

They expressed preference for the computer based testing system above the previous traditional paper system.

Some of the Candidates made the submission when the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad visited some NECO , CBT Senior School Certificate Examination Centres in Abuja to monitor the exercise.

Speaking after the monitoring exercise, the Minister of State for Education , Prof Suwaiba Ahmad commended NECO for the seamless conduct of the exams , aimed at modernising the national examination process using CBT in selected centres.

Prof Ahmad explained that this was made possible through commitment, innovation, and the right partnerships, adding that the transition aims at restoring integrity to our examination system, curbing malpractice, creating jobs, and unlocking a new value chain in the education and ICT sectors.

” The monitoring exercise revealed that the examination was conducted smoothly, with no reported cases of network failure, system malfunction or delays.” He added.

On his part, the NECO Registrar, Prof Ibrahim Wushishi said about 1,378,048 candidates with over 700 thousand female candidates are currently sitting for the exam across the accredited CBT centers.

Prof Wushishi noted that CBT has helped reduce examination timing as results would be out before September this year to enable students use it for admission.

“The Federal Government is gradually expanding CBT examinations nationwide as part of broader education reforms aimed at improving transparency, efficiency and credibility in Nigeria’s examination system while tackling examination malpractice through technology.”

Earlier in a remark , the Principal of Redeemers Teap School, Oladimeji Yusuf commended what he described as the Federal Government’s visionary initiative to modernise assessment, improve transparency and prepare Nigerian students for a technology driven future.

Mr Yusuf added that the CBT initiative would enhance the Computer skills of students,as well as prepare them to compete effectively with their peers across the world.

The monitoring exercise started from Redeemer’s Teap School and ended at the  Anglican Girls Grammar School Apo, with FCT having 10 Computer based testing centers.

Nkiruka Okeke