The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has criticized the West African Examinations Council's (WAEC) plans to migrate its West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination for Private Candidates (WASSCE) from paper and pencil tests to computer-based exams (CBE) starting in 2024.
WAEC announced on Monday that beginning with the WASSCE for private candidates in 2024, the exams would be delivered via computer. The council said its vision is for all its examinations to eventually be computer-based.
However, NUT Secretary-General Dr Mike Ike-Ene argued that Nigeria's basic education sector is not prepared for CBE exams. He said issues like a lack of computers in schools, poor electricity supply, and unstable internet networks would likely hamper WAEC's proposed switch to computer-based testing.
"Nigerians don't have to roll out policies just because it sounds good. The NUT can never tell you it does not know the importance of ICT but there is a big challenge about this WAEC CBE," Ike-Ene told reporters.
He said many Nigerian schools lack reliable internet connections and questioned how well-equipped schools would secure their computer resources. Ike-Ene also raised concerns about schools' ability to repair broken computers given limited budgets.
According to Ike-Ene, requiring computer-based exams would disadvantage rural students who have never used computers before. "How will the village boy and girl who have not seen a computer before cope?" he asked.
Ike-Ene threatened that NUT could go on strike to oppose WAEC's plan, which he argued would fail students. "Whoever suggested it has plans to fail Nigerian students. We are highly against it," he said.
Responding to WAEC's plan to initially limit CBE exams to urban centers, Ike-Ene said it would create divisions between students.
However, the National President of the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Public Schools, Mr. Musa Ibrahim, applauded WAEC's move towards CBE exams. He argued the exams are "doable" and would add value by moving assessments into the digital era.
Ibrahim said since WAEC plans to start CBE exams in urban areas, it can be gradually expanded. He said computer-based testing will also help curb exam malpractice.
