The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has expressed concern over the potential for widespread failure in the upcoming West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) in Nigeria, particularly in the Northern region.
Yerima Shettima, the National President of AYCF, conveyed this apprehension in a statement released in Kaduna State on Friday, urging the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to either cancel the adoption of computer-based tests (CBT) or make it an optional format.
Shettima argued that the lack of computer skills, understanding, and ICT infrastructure in many secondary schools in the northern states could lead to unfavorable outcomes with the CBT exams. He suggested that the CBT exams should have been voluntary, allowing candidates to choose between the traditional pen-and-paper style and the computer-based technique based on their comfort and proficiency.
The AYCF leader emphasized that their research in states like Zamfara, Jigawa, Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, and Plateau revealed consistently misleading failure rates among students attending public schools where computer skills were not adequately taught.
Shettima cited the experience of students grappling with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) CBT exams, noting that underprivileged students faced challenges answering questions in an unfamiliar format. The lack of proper computer skills, coupled with outdated and poorly maintained desktop computers in CBT centers, exacerbated the situation, leading to systemic failures, according to him.
The AYCF believes that making the CBT exams optional would provide students with a fair choice, allowing them to select the format they are most comfortable with. Shettima stressed that the call for reconsideration is essential to prevent a potential surge in failure rates among students who deserve equal opportunities for success.
In September 2023, WAEC’s Head of National Office, Mr. Patrick Areghan, hinted at the organization’s intention to use the CBT mode for its examinations. Areghan acknowledged the challenges associated with this transition, emphasizing that it was not as straightforward as many believed.
