It is impossible to adopt CBT for now — WAEC

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has said it will not be possible to adopt the Computer Based Test (CBT) mode at the moment because of the variables involved in its examinations.

WAEC’s Head of National Office (HNO), Dr Charles Eguridu, stated this while addressing journalists in Lagos.

Eguridu was responding to the demands in some quarters that the body should employ the CBT mode which Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) migrated fully to in conducting the 2015 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

He said those making the call are ignorant of the socioeconomic variables involved in adopting CBT for WAEC examinations.

“WAEC examinations involve the use of multiple choice questions, essay and practical, in which case we test various domains of learning," Eguridu said.

“And with this, it is not going to be valid to test certain domains of learning with CBT.

“Or can you use CBT in measuring proficiency in certain trade subjects such as carpentry and others? ’’

He identified poor internet connectivity and constant electricity outage and the huge capital requirement for the provision of needed equipment for each candidate would make it challenging.

“All what I am trying to explain here is that it will not be possible for us to adopt the CBT mode for our examinations at least for now."

He however noted that partial adoption "for certain aspects of our examination" would be worked out.