Why we can’t migrate to CBT – NECO

Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, the Registrar of the National Examinations Council (NECO), shed light on the council’s stance regarding the migration from paper-based to Computer-Based Test (CBT) examinations, during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja.

Prof. Wushishi, while addressing the complexity of NECO’s examinations, stressed that the transition to CBT cannot be immediate due to the intricate nature of the assessments conducted by the council. Unlike other examination bodies like JAMB, NECO examines candidates across a vast array of subject areas, presenting a unique challenge in adopting CBT seamlessly.

With close to 1.5 million candidates examined annually in 76 different subjects and over 150 papers, the scale and diversity of NECO’s examinations necessitate a gradual approach towards embracing CBT. While international institutions such as Lead University and Birmingham City University in the U.K. have recognized and accepted NECO results, affirming its credibility, the council remains cautious about rushing into CBT implementation.

Prof. Wushishi highlighted potential starting points for transitioning to CBT, such as the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE), which is predominantly multiple-choice based. However, he stressed the importance of meticulous planning and consideration of various factors before embarking on such a significant shift in examination methodology.

Particularly in the upcoming Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) internal, Prof. Wushishi assured the public of NECO’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of its assessments.

Regarding the prevention of examination malpractices, advanced identity verification measures and surveillance of potential phishing sites have been implemented to mitigate the risk of leaks or malpractices during examinations.

Prof. Wushishi underscored the council’s important contributions to Nigerian education. With over 34 million youths examined and continuous efforts to enhance examination processes through nationwide reforms and policy initiatives, NECO remains committed to fulfilling its mandate of ensuring credible and reliable assessments for Nigerian students, reflecting on NECO’s milestones over its 25-year history.