The Federal government has actually exposed plans for the National Examinations Council to start computer-based evaluations this year as part of more comprehensive efforts to modernise Nigeria’s assessment system and deal with malpractice.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, revealed the advancement on Thursday during activities marking NECO’s 25th anniversary in Abuja.
According to the minister, the introduction of technology-driven evaluations represents a substantial reform targeted at enhancing the trustworthiness and integrity of public assessments in the country.
Alausa said the adoption of computer-based testing would reinforce keeping an eye on procedures throughout assessments by enabling real-time supervision of prospects and helping authorities detect suspicious activities better.
He kept in mind that the reform forms part of ongoing efforts to line up Nigeria’s education system with global standards while improving transparency in public evaluations.
Describing NECO as a critical institution within the education sector, the minister said the evaluation body had grown over the past 25 years into a dependable nationwide assessment company dedicated to accountability and fairness.
He added that the council had made noteworthy progress in improving assessment security, broadening access to underserved communities, and presenting technological innovations that have increased public confidence in its certificates.
Alausa likewise ensured that the Federal Ministry of Education would continue to offer oversight to make sure that NECO’s assessment processes stay constant with national curriculum objectives and educational standards.
The minister worried the requirement for evaluations to move beyond memorisation-based knowing and focus more on competencies such as critical thinking, digital literacy, and problem-solving.
In his remarks, the Registrar and Ceo of NECO, Dantani Wushishi, said the council had broadened its examination operations to eight nations outside Nigeria, showing growing international acknowledgment of its certificates.
Wushishi mentioned that NECO had gotten rid of early obstacles connected to credibility concerns, facilities limitations, and public scepticism to become a respected evaluation body within and beyond the area.
He disclosed that the council had introduced a number of reforms for many years, including e-certificates, digital verification platforms, e-library services, and information analytics systems.
The registrar further revealed that NECO had actually started infrastructure jobs across numerous states and established additional zonal directorates to enhance operations and service delivery across the country.
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According to him, the council also just recently acquired functional automobiles to reinforce evaluation logistics and administration throughout the country.
Wushishi included that NECO would magnify efforts to combat assessment malpractice while deepening its digital improvement efforts in line with its long-term development program.
He likewise acknowledged the contributions of former Nigerian leaders, including Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Olusegun Obasanjo, toward the establishment and development of the evaluation body.
Stakeholders at the anniversary event described NECO’s development over the last 20 years as a major turning point and expressed optimism that the shift to computer-based assessments would enhance transparency, performance, and trustworthiness in Nigeria’s public assessment system.
The relocation marks another shift in Nigeria’s examination procedure amidst continued issues over malpractice, including impersonation, collusion, and concern leakages. Over the last few years, other assessment bodies such as the Joint Admissions and Enlisting Board have actually embraced computer-based testing, mentioning improvements in examination security and result processing.