By Ken Afor
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) declared that they had replaced the traditional paper and pencil method of conducting the Senior School Certificate Examination with the Computer-Based Examination (CBE).
This was conveyed in a statement signed by the acting head of the Public Affairs Unit of WAEC, Moyosola Adesina.
The innovation is expected to take effect in February 2024 for private candidates.
The exam body noted that the first series of the exam which is objective will be fully computerised while the “essay and test of practical papers will be hybrid, in which the examination questions will be delivered on screen and candidates are required to write answers on the answer booklets given to them”.
The exam body stated that in the near future all examinations will be served via the computer.
The statement reads, “In line with global best practices, the Nigeria National Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) wishes to inform the general public, and all its stakeholders, that it has concluded plans to migrate its WASSCE for Private Candidates Examination Diets from Paper and Pencil Test to Computer Based Examination (CBE).
“The innovation will commence with WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2024 – First Series, which is slated to be held in February 2024. The Objective Tests will be fully Computer Based, the Essay and Test of Practical papers will be hybrid, in which the examination questions will be delivered on screen and candidates are required to write answers on the answer booklets given to them.
“Furthermore, the examination will be conducted in urban centres/cities and candidates with special needs have been factored into the plan. Registration for the examination will commence on Monday, December 18, 2023.
“In order to enable candidates to familiarise themselves with the new examination platform, arrangements have been concluded for a Mock Examination to be conducted in February 2024, before the examination commences.
“To this end, the Council implores all prospective candidates to hone their computer skills and be fully prepared to embrace this innovation.
“As Africa’s foremost examining body, providing qualitative and reliable educational assessment, encouraging academic and moral excellence, it is the vision of the Council that in the near future, all its examinations will be delivered via the computer.”
