The Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has urged the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to adopt online examinations which would be done remotely on a computer with high-speed internet.
“A shift from offline to online examinations would reduce the current overall logistics costs, break geographic barriers, thereby enabling a wider reach and participation.
“It would provide real-time analytical and assessment reports to examiners and candidates, and further curb the menace of examination malpractices through Artificial Intelligence-based proctoring technology”, he said.
Prof. Osinbajo said this when he opened the 70th Annual Council Meeting of the WAEC, hosted by Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday, with other WAEC member states; Ghana, The Gambia, Sierra Leone and Liberia, joining virtually.
He said though WAEC had made strides with technology by introducing biometric verifications and online registration, it should go further in order to meet technological advancements in the world.
Aside the online examination, he suggested that WAEC should implement on-screen marking, otherwise called digital evaluation – a method of marking paper-based candidate responses using a computer.
“I am aware WAEC is currently implementing some aspects of it. This technology enhances the quality of evaluation of descriptive answer scripts within a transparent, secure and efficient framework. Hence, the council must work towards fully adopting this innovation,”he said.
Prof. Osinbajo also recommended that the examination body reviewed the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) curriculum and examinations to prepare students to meet the needs of the modern world.
He said the Council should implement Cambridge’s International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) module, which involves creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving.
“With amazing advances in technology, talent is more mobile, and there is greater competition for well trained, innovative and resourceful human resources. The 21st-century economy requires different skill sets– problem-solving and innovation are key requirements,” he said.
Prof. Osinbajo said that the way people worked, did business and lived in the global economy was not the same as before, necessitating that the WAEC aligned itself with current trends and advances in technology.
“The essential difference is that the WAEC encourages learning by rote, the IGSCE incorporates the teaching of core skills or deep learning skills, critical thinking, creativity, imagination, problem-solving skills, and collaboration”, he said.
Prof. Osinbajo commended WAEC for its contribution to education in member countries throughout the seven decades and reaffirmed the country’s support for the examination body.
The Registrar to the Council, Pateh Bah, said the Council had delivered creditably on its mandate, thereby assisting in the development of sound education, and stimulating sustainable national development through capacity building and quality manpower production.
The Chairman of the Council, Prof. Ato Essuman, expressed worry about the menace of examination malpractices and the innovative ways perpetrators had adopted and called on stakeholders to support WAEC fight the illegal practice.
BY JONATHAN DONKOR
