President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has endorsed the Computer Based Test (CBT) introduced by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in the conduct of her Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinationย (UTME).
The President who thumbed up the progress made so far by the Board in administering her test through Computer Based Test (CBT) and the consolidation efforts of the new examination regime was optimistic that the introduction would revolutionize the education sector.
President Jonathan who dropped thisย hintย in Netherlandsย (Holland) when he met with the officials of the Netherlandsย examination body otherwise called CITOย and JAMBpointed out that his administration places muchย premium on qualitative education, expansion of access and making the sector model among comity of great nations.ย ย He promised to ensure that the Board has enough centres to conduct the Computer Based Test.
He stressed the need for closer collaboration with the CITO whom he said has garnered over ten (10) years experience in the conduct of e-testing and other forms of electronic innovationsย in the administration of public examinations.
The Registrar of JAMB, Professor โDibu Ojerinde while briefing the President at the gatheringย noted that the collaboration has put the Board in a better pedestrian to administer the test saying that though the experience has not been without challenges butย the Boardย was poised to confront the challenges frontallyย and convert the seemingly challenges to opportunities.ย ย He explained to the President that last year the Board had about Fifty-Five (55) centres with only about a Hundred Thounsand candidatesย for the Computer Based Test. However, with the success of the test last year more of the UTME candidates have indicated interest in the CBT. He saidย theย exercise this yearย willย be taking place in about One Hundred and Fifty-Three (153) Centres ย with overย Six Hundred Thousand candidatesย across the nation.
Prof Ojerindeย pointedย outย that the wind of change is on and Nigeria beingย a leading country in Africa cannot be left out, even as he said that other African countries like Tanzania has partnered with JAMB on Item Response Theory (IRT)ย trainingย and to study the JAMB experience for their country adoption and trials for Computer Based Test (CBT).
The Computer Based Test (CBT) was introduced by JAMB in its determination to sanitize the sector and curb hydra-dreaded monstersย suchย as examination malpractice, result black-out or incomplete results and other unethical behavioursย capable of undermining the Paper Pencil Test hitherto conducted by the Board.
The paperlessย test also enhancesย prompt release of raw score,ย greater standardization of test administration, is reliable, flexible, simple to administer and eliminatesย high cost of logistics and hectic planning for the examination.
Fabian Benjamin
Head Public Relations
JAMB
