WAEC Not Ready For Computer-Based Test Examinations

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, National News, News Friday, August 21st, 2015

By Ganiyu Nasirudeen – The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has clarified it is not considering adopting Computer-Based Test (CBT) for its examinations for now.

WAEC National Office Lagos Head, Mr. Charles Eguridu, made the clarification in Abuja, during an interactive session with the Education Correspondents.

Adopting CBT mode of examinations in the next five years or in the nearest future, Eguridu declared would amount to “intellectual dishonesty” for him to advocate.

He explained that the purpose of education was to prepare people for life and not to pass examinations alone, hence, the significance of assessing different domains which CBT could accommodate.

“There is what we call the cognitive domain; that is what you have learnt that you can put in your head. There is also what we call affective domain that has to do with your emotions. There is also what we call the psychomotor domain that is skills which you can express using your hands and your body” Mr Eguridu narrated.

He stressed that he was yet to see any education expert who would direct measuring the psychomotor domain with CBT.

He added that the examinations conducted by the council took into account the three domains which measured ability to recall, apply and practicalize.

Mr. Eguridu said that in psychomotor domain, candidates did practical tests in agricultural science in the farm and the examiner supervised their actual agricultural practice, while those doing woodwork were made to carry out physical designs of whatever woodwork assignment they were going to do and evaluated on the outcome of their work.

He cited example of Netherlands, which he stated was yet to adopt CBT based examinations.

Eguridu however disclosed that WAEC was using specialized gadgets in detecting examination malpractice, noting the equipment could transmit any irregularity to its data in Lagos office.