The Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, has assured that no student, whether from urban or rural communities, will be left behind during the transition to computer-based tests (CBT). Speaking on Tuesday during a monitoring visit to selected schools in Abuja for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), Ms. Ahmad emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring equal access for all candidates.
“We will not roll out CBT in a way that excludes any student. Every child will have the opportunity to write their examination, regardless of location or infrastructure,” she said. The minister urged Nigerians to be patient as efforts are underway to address all concerns before the full implementation of CBT, promising that no child will be disadvantaged.
Highlighting the benefits of the transition, Ms. Ahmad noted that students showed a clear preference for CBT over traditional paper-based exams. She cited an orderly and timely CBT centre visit compared to delays and logistical challenges experienced at paper-based exam centres, such as exam postponements due to rain and missing exam scripts.
CBT, she explained, guarantees students their full allotted exam time by starting the clock only when questions are accessed. This innovation aims to eliminate common issues like weather disruptions, transportation delays, and administrative errors. Furthermore, the individualized nature of CBT questions will help reduce exam malpractices such as impersonation, leaks, and answer sharing.
The minister acknowledged that logistical challenges remain, particularly in rural areas lacking reliable electricity and internet. To address this, WAEC and NECO are collaborating with JAMB and other stakeholders to leverage JAMB’s existing well-equipped CBT centres for future exams. The government is also working with state authorities to map rural and urban challenges to develop practical solutions.
“When we roll out the CBT examination, we are going to make use of existing JAMB centres. We are not going to make use of school centres, since there are schools in rural locations without power,” Ms. Ahmad explained, stressing the careful planning underway to ensure no student is disadvantaged when CBT is fully implemented.
