WAEC mulls introducing CBT for WASSCE
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has said that efforts to implement the Computer Based Test (CBT) modality in the administration of its examinations are well underway.
Mr Patrick Areghan, the Head of National Office (HNO), hinted at this in a conversation with newsmen on Saturday in Lagos.
Areghan was speaking against the backdrop of the council’s remarkable successes and advancements under his leadership, as he prepared to step down on Oct. 1.
He would be bowing out after completing his three-year tenure.
Areghan said that introducing the CBT mode of administrating some of the council’s examinations had been part of his vision for the body in the near future.
“We have already started something in terms of CBT examination. We have gone far with our planning and all of that, even in the sub-region, the registrar to the council is also doing something.
“But this is not as easy as some people will think. This is because we ask ourselves, how do we conduct CBT for practicals and essay papers?
“We can only readily do that in the case of objective questions. But so many people will not see it from that angle. They argue that some others are doing it, so why can’t WAEC do the same?
“Now, no one even talks about energy; how many schools are exposed to computer literacy? How many have computer facilities and how many have electricity to run these things?
“Even where you have all these things on the ground, how do you handle the issue of theory and practical papers? So, these are the issues, but that is what I want the council to do in the very near future.
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“We should be able to conduct CBT examinations, even if it means starting with the objective questions,” he said.
The outgoing WAEC boss noted that already, the council had already concluded introducing the administration of its examination using the CBT platform under his watch, in no distant time, starting with the objective questions and later theory and practicals.
Areghan said aside from the introduction of the CBT, he would also like to see all the operations of the council fully digitalized in the near future.
He noted that almost every section of the council had been digitalized under his watch. He also stated that the council’s Digital Security Printing Press is another milestone achievement under his watch.
According to him, after 71 years of the council’s existence, the introduction of the digital security printing press is a worthy legacy.
This is alongside other internal ones, such as the Staff Bus scheme, meant to cushion the effect of high transportation fares, occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal, he said.
Speaking on his greatest achievement, Areghan highlighted the successful conduct of examinations, release of results within the stipulated time, and printing and release of certificates to deserving candidates as key.
