Arewa Youth wants cancellation of proposed CBT in WASSCE, fears mass failure in the region

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum has strongly advocated for the cancellation of the proposed Computer-Based Test (CBT) format in the upcoming West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) in Nigeria.

The forum expresses concern that implementing this mode of examination would likely lead to widespread failure, especially in rural areas of northern states where computer skills are scarce.

National President of AYCF, Yerima Shettima, issued a statement in Kaduna on Friday, asserting that the CBT exams should have been optional.

Shettima argues that allowing candidates to choose between the traditional pen-and-paper format and the computer-based approach would provide students with the flexibility to opt for the format they are most comfortable with and capable of handling successfully.

Related reports highlight the tension surrounding this issue, with the Edo Representative paying WASSCE fees for 10,000 indigent students, while the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) voices skepticism, stating that the computer-based WASSCE won’t work.

Kogi State approves N497 million to pay WASSCE fees, emphasizing the financial implications of the proposed changes.

Shettima, in the statement, emphasized the Forum’s research findings in selected northern states, including Zamfara, Jigawa, Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, and Plateau. The research indicated that CBT exams consistently resulted in misleading failure rates among students in public schools, where computer skills were often not taught.

Highlighting the challenges faced by students during the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) CBT exams, Shettima stated, “Many students who failed the CBT-based JAMB exams last year argued that their failures were a result of systemic issues, including insufficient facilities or network failures during the exams.”

He further noted that a lack of proper and adequate computer skills, coupled with outdated desktop computers not properly maintained by CBT centers, exacerbated the situation.

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum emphasizes that their call for cancellation is crucial to prevent a potential massive failure rate among students who deserve fair and equal opportunities for success in their academic pursuits.