Arewa youths oppose CBT style for WAEC exams, claim it will result in mass failure
Mr. Shettima believes the CBT tests should have been voluntary.
The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYFC) has rejected the planned computer-based test format for the country’s upcoming West African tests Council tests.
In a statement issued in Kaduna on Friday, the national president of the youth forum, Yerima Shettima, claimed that using such a manner for the exam will result in widespread failure for pupils, particularly in rural areas where computer skills are few or non-existent.
In a statement, the acting head of WAEC’s public affairs unit, Moyosola Adesina, announced the abandonment of the paper and pencil test model in favor of the CBT mode for the conduct of the Senior School Certificate Examination, which she claimed was in line with global best practices.
Mr Shettima expressed his displeasure, saying that the CBT tests should have been made optional, giving students the choice to choose the format they are most comfortable with and capable of undertaking effectively.
He claimed that the forum’s research in Zamfara, Jigawa, Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, and Plateau revealed that CBT exams consistently resulted in misleading failure rates among students attending public schools, where computer skills were frequently not taught.
Mr Shettima said,
“Even the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board – CBT exam has placed underprivileged students in a predicament as they struggle to answer questions in an unfamiliar format.
“Many students who failed the CBT-based JAMB exams last year argued that their failures were a result of systemic failures, including insufficient facilities or network failures during the exams.
“Additionally, a lack of proper and adequate computer skills, coupled with outdated desktop computers that are not properly maintained by CBT centres, further exacerbated the situation.
“As the exams are timed, these delays significantly hinder the performance of students who otherwise possess sufficient knowledge of the content,” he lamented.
The forum, therefore, called on the ministry of education, Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Christian Association of Nigeria, National Association of Nigerian Students and other relevant civil society organisations to reject the planned CBT exams.
“The AYCF remains committed to promoting quality education, equitable examination processes, and the overall advancement of education in Nigeria. We stand ready to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to find suitable alternatives that ensure a level playing field for all students,” he concluded.