The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has announced plans to gradually phase out the use of paper and go paperless in its examinations like WASSCE and BECE.
Dr. Amos Dangut, Head of the National Office, revealed this initiative after monitoring the ongoing West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Abeokuta on Thursday.
Accompanied by Mrs. Mariam Oloko, the Permanent Secretary of the Ogun Ministry of Education, Dangut outlined WAEC’s strategy to introduce electronic devices at various recognized examination centers nationwide for future WASSCE exams.
According to Dangut, this shift to electronic devices aims to eliminate paper-based candidate registration and reduce malpractice at examination centers.
“In the future, we will provide schools with the option to conduct computer-based testing for those with the necessary facilities, while those not yet ready will continue with pen-and-paper exams,” he stated.
He added that WAEC would collaborate with the Ministry of Education to establish a timeline for this transition, ensuring a smooth rollout when the time comes.
Dangut expressed satisfaction with the current examination process, noting that both schools and students were well-prepared.
However, he emphasized the need for schools to expand their laboratories and equip them adequately to meet the demands of the students.
This year’s WASSCE involves over 1.8 million candidates across Nigeria, highlighting the significant scale of the examinations.
Mrs. Oloko noted that the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun had already started implementing online registration for students in both public and private schools in Ogun State.
She assured that the government would continue upgrading Information Communication Technology (ICT) and other facilities in public schools to better prepare teachers and students for future examinations.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the monitoring team visited several schools in Abeokuta, including Abeokuta Grammar School, Baptist Girls College in Idi-Aba, Sacred Heart College in Oke Ilewo, and Charis College in Oke Ata.
These visits underscored the commitment of WAEC and the Ogun Ministry of Education to ensuring the smooth conduct of examinations and the readiness of schools to adopt new technologies.
Overall, WAEC’s move towards electronic examinations represents a significant shift in its approach, aiming to modernize the examination process and enhance its integrity. This initiative is expected to bring about a more efficient and secure method of conducting exams, ultimately benefiting both students and educationalinstitutions across Nigeria.
The gradual elimination of paper in examinations marks a forward-thinking step in the evolution of the country’s educational assessment system.
