The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is set to embrace Computer Based Testing (CBT) for its exams, as announced by the Head of National Office, Mr. Patrick Areghan, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria. Areghan, who is preparing to conclude his three-year tenure on October 1st, revealed that CBT implementation has been part of his vision for WAEC.
Areghan explained that while progress has been made in planning CBT exams, challenges remain, especially in handling practical and essay papers. He emphasized the need to address issues like computer literacy, access to computer facilities, and electricity availability in schools. Areghan indicated that the transition to CBT would begin with objective questions and later extend to theory and practical papers, possibly offering a segregated approach for schools that cannot afford CBT.
Beyond CBT, Areghan aspired to fully digitize all aspects of WAEC's operations, including certificate issuance, result checking, and verification. He envisioned WAEC becoming a technology-driven examination body on the international stage. Additionally, he expressed a desire to extend the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to Nigerian children in the diaspora and promote the use of digital certificates across the sub-region.
Areghan highlighted the introduction of WAEC's Digital Security Printing Press as a significant milestone during his tenure and mentioned internal initiatives such as the Staff Bus scheme. He expressed confidence in his successor's ability to continue these efforts and expressed gratitude for the successful conduct of exams, timely result release, and certificate issuance during his tenure. Conducting exams during the challenging COVID-19 years was among his proudest achievements.
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