In a resolute declaration, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYFC) has vehemently opposed the proposed adoption of the computer-based test (CBT) format for the upcoming West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams in Nigeria. The rejection, conveyed by the national president of the youth forum, Yerima Shettima, was disclosed in a statement issued in Kaduna on Friday.
Shettima expressed deep concern over the potential ramifications of implementing the CBT mode, particularly highlighting the risk of mass failure, especially in rural areas where computer skills are limited or entirely absent. The rejection comes in response to WAEC's announcement, made by Moyosola Adesina, the acting head of the public affairs unit, about the transition from the traditional paper and pencil test model to the globally recognized CBT mode for the Senior School Certificate Examination.
Shettima argued that the CBT exams should have been offered as an optional format, giving students the flexibility to choose the mode they are most comfortable with and capable of navigating successfully. The AYFC president cited research conducted in northern states, including Zamfara, Jigawa, Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, and Plateau, indicating consistently misleading failure rates among students attending public schools, where computer skills were not commonly taught.
"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," Mr. Shettima lamented. He further pointed to systemic failures, such as insufficient facilities and network failures during exams, outdated computers, and a lack of proper computer skills, as contributing factors to the challenges faced by students in CBT-based exams.
The AYFC is now urging key stakeholders, including the ministry of education, Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Christian Association of Nigeria, National Association of Nigerian Students, and other civil society organizations, to unite against the planned CBT exams. Emphasizing their commitment to promoting quality education and equitable examination processes, Shettima concluded by expressing the forum's readiness to collaborate with all stakeholders to find suitable alternatives ensuring a level playing field for all students.
