WAEC to gradually eliminate use of papers in examinations — Official

West African Examination Council (WAEC) in Nigeria says it would gradually eliminate the use of papers in the conduct of its examinations.

Dr Amos Dangut, Head of National Office, disclosed this on Thursday after monitoring the conduct of the ongoing West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Abeokuta.

The WAEC boss, who was in the company of the Permanent Secretary, Ogun Ministry of Education, Mrs Mariam Oloko, explained that WAEC was planning to deploy electronic devices to various recognised examination centres across the country for the future conduct of WASSCE.

He said that the deployment of the devices would eliminate the current use of paper registration of candidates and detect all forms of malpractice in the centres.

“We are saying that in the future, we are going to give this provision where schools that have facilities to do computer-based testing will take the examination on the computer where those that are not ready will do the pen and paper.

“We will work in consultation with the Ministry of Education to have a timeline for this. When the time comes we shall roll it out,” he said.

Dangut explained that the assessment was satisfactory, noting that the schools and the students had prepared well for the examination.

He, however, added that there was need for schools to have bigger laboratories that would cater for the students with sufficient equipment.

According to him, over 1.8 million candidates are writing the examinations across the country.

On her part, Oloko noted that the Gov. Dapo Abiodun-led administration had already commenced the process of online registration of pupils in both public and private schools in the state.

The permanent secretary assured continuous upgrading of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and other facilities in public schools to prepare teachers and students.

It was reported that the monitoring team visited Abeokuta Grammar School and Baptist Girls College, both in Idi-Aba.

The team also visited Sacred Heart College, Oke Ilewo and Charis College, Oke Ata, both in Abeokuta.