Jane Salihu
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa has applauded the National Examinations Council (NECO) for its rapid adoption of technology, saying the council’s digital transformation is strengthening the credibility and security of public examinations in Nigeria.
Alausa gave the commendation during a meeting with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPPS) and other education stakeholders, where he praised NECO Registrar, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, for driving what he described as a remarkable transformation of the examination body.
The Minister said the council had become better positioned to conduct credible examinations through the deployment of Computer-Based Examinations (CBE) and other technology-driven processes.
“I can tell you today, with all unequivocation, NECO is better placed. NECO conducts better exams. NECO uses better technology,” the minister said.
He specifically commended the speed with which NECO has embraced computer-based examinations, describing the council’s technological transformation as “amazing.”
“When we also go to this CBT, they move quickly, they deploy better technology. The transformation of NECO, amazing,” Alausa said.
According to the minister, the Federal Government’s decision to support the continued leadership of Wushishi at NECO was based on performance and results rather than patronage.
“We’ve worked with him, we’ve got him to where we want, he’s doing so well, why do we have to change him?” he asked, adding that “this thing is not about patronage to us. It’s not about patronage, it’s about value.”
The minister said NECO’s growing reliance on technology was particularly significant in the government’s battle against examination malpractice, which he described as one of the major threats to the integrity of Nigeria’s education system.
Alausa recalled that examination questions were allegedly being obtained for as little as N3,000 before the current reforms, describing the situation as evidence of how deeply examination malpractice had become entrenched in the country.
“It’s sad. Before we came, the acceptance of examination malpractice, cheating and examination leakages in this country was mind-boggling, and the country accepted it. It was a nightmare,” he said.
He warned that unchecked examination malpractice could damage the wider education system by discouraging students who prepare honestly while rewarding those who resort to cheating.
“The danger was that the good students would also become bad,” the minister said.
He therefore called on parents, teachers, school proprietors, principals, invigilators and students to support government efforts to restore integrity and credibility to public examinations.
NECO’s digital transformation has included online registration, biometric verification, Computer-Based Examinations for selected papers, digital certificates and automated grading, while the Federal Government is gradually expanding the migration from traditional Paper-Pencil Tests to Computer-Based Examinations.
The council has also expanded its international reach, conducting Nigerian curriculum-based examinations in at least eight countries for schools and candidates in the diaspora.
NECO, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, says its examinations have impacted almost 35 million Nigerians since its establishment.
As the digital transition gathers pace, the Federal Government is also promoting additional safeguards, including the serial numbering of examination question papers, as part of measures to reduce the risk of leakage and further strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s examination system.
