WAEC gives date to start ‘Nigeria’ WASSCE for Private Computer-Based Test
The not-for-profit-making organization (WAEC) says that on Friday, October 25, 2024, it will commence its Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CBWASSCE) for private candidates.
The West African Examinations Council, in a statement sighted by GhanaEducation.org, said the private examination for Nigerian candidates will end on December 20, 2024.
“The examination will adopt the hybrid mode of delivering the examination, which implies that the objective or multiple-choice questions would be rendered onscreen and candidates would be required to give their responses on the screen, while the essay and practical questions will be rendered on-screen, likewise, but candidates would have to give their responses using the answer booklets provided,” said a WAEC spokesperson, Adesina Fadekemi.
Alternative to the Computer-Based, the Council, the Examinations Council has provided an option for candidates who wish to use Paper and Pen mode, throughout the examination papers.
“Similarly, the ‘Walk-in-Candidate’ opportunity (for candidates who register 24 hours before the particular paper of their choice is due to be taken) will be open at the end of the registration,” WAEC said in the press statement.
The October examination will mark the second edition of the Computer Based Tests (CBT) as the first edition was conducted successfully in Janary and February 2024.
Commenting on the first edition of the CBT, the Head of National Office, WAEC, Nigeria, Dr Amos Dangut said “The examination, held in January and February, yielded better performance compared to the previous year, with a significant decrease in malpractices from five per cent to 0.8 per cent
We are now gearing up for the upcoming private candidates’ examination in October and November, offering candidates the choice between the traditional pen and paper and the computer-based method.”
As an initiative to expand computer-based examination, he said “It’s part of our plans to eventually implement computer-based examinations for all schools, in collaboration with the Federal Government and other stakeholders.
“We are also working on providing necessary facilities and training for schools to facilitate this transition. In any case, the world is already moving technologically. We also, as part of the global community, must ensure that we move along,” he noted.
The WAEC official said contrary to what critics were saying, the transition to the computer-based method was a success and had reduced malpractice rate significantly, however, it is unclear if Ghanaian candidates will have the option to select the CBT.