Planned adoption of computer-based test for UTME stirs debate

ixed reactions have continued to trail the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s decision to adopt the use of computer-based test for its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination starting from 2013, 

 

The resolution of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board to adopt the computer-based test method for the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination starting from 2013 has stirred up a debate among stakeholders.

While some argued that the nation was not ripe for the initiative because of inadequate infrastructural facilities, epileptic power supply and low ICT literacy level, others reasoned that the idea should be supported. According to them, adoption of CBT method for matriculation examination will eliminate the challenges associated with the UTME. These challenges, they argued, include unnecessary withholding of candidates’ result and reduction in cost of examination by candidates. JAMB Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, had while announcing the commencement of the CBT for the matriculation examination, told the press that the innovation would commence on a transitional scale, accommodating between 150,000 and 250,000 candidates in the first experiment in 2013.

He said the board was hopeful of adopting the Computer-Based Testing for all candidates in 2015 because its advantages were too numerous.

According to him,  most importantly, it will improve the board’s service delivery; reduce the incidence of breaches of examination security and make Nigeria operate global best practices.

“We have identified some testing centres for the 2013 transitional experiment all over the federation, including Lagos, Ondo and Kwara States. But these are inadequate for the envisaged full blown exercise in 2015.

“Therefore, we urge state governments, private investors and stakeholders alike to buy into the building of computer-based centres.

“I assure all those who embrace this of patronage not only by JAMB but also by other examination bodies who would sooner than later join the board in conducting public examinations using the CBT,” Ojerinde said.

He stated that the CBT was the future  trend, adding that Nigeria should not be left behind in ensuring that global best practices were achieved.

 However,  a senior administrator at the Agbado District Comprehensive High School, Ogun State, who pleaded anonymity, said that most public schools did not have computers and that a large percentage of pupils were not computer literate.

He said, “When I heard that JAMB wanted to start a CBT, I just giggled because I know it can’t work in Nigeria. Using my school for example, we don’t have functional computer systems. And this school is one of the biggest schools in this district. The possibility of JAMB using this school as a centre is high.

“CBT for UTME is a good idea, but the Federal Government and JAMB must put ICT facilities in place first. A large percentage of pupils, most especially the ones in public schools, are not computer literate. We shouldn’t add more stress to what these children are already facing. I believe we should continue with PPT until we get things right,” he said.

Also, a teacher at Iju Grammar School, Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, who identified himself simply as Mr. Femi, said the school had just one functioning computer, adding that power supply was a big challenge for the school.

He said, “We’ve not had electricity for a long time. I wonder how CBT can work in this school. I feel JAMB needs to put a lot of facilities in place before going ahead with CBT. However, I’m aware that candidates would have the option to choose between PPT and CBT which is good. But that doesn’t change my opinion that JAMB should put the right measures in place before kick starting the CBT.”

Despite these challenges, some schools such as Diary Farm Senior Secondary School, Agege, Lagos, have started getting their pupils prepared for the matriculation examination.

The Principal, Diary Farm Senior Secondary School, Mrs. Oyedokun Arike, said that the pupils had started receiving seminars on how to take CBT.

She said, “There is a private firm that has been coming to the school to tutor the pupils about CBT. The seminar has been very useful. We have also started getting our computer systems up and running. At the moment, we have eight computer systems. We hope to get more computer systems soon.”

“Change is constant. I’m a strong believer in CBT. It’s high time we broke away from the norm. Information and Communications Technology is now what is reigning, we have to keep up with the trend,” Arike said.

Though the Pro-Chancellor, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Prof. Jide Osuntokun, admitted that the adoption of CBT for UTME was a good move, he said it might not be successful.

He said, “My take on this new system is that it will not work because we live in a country where there is no steady power supply. Many parts of Nigeria don’t have power supply. If you go to some rural parts of Nigeria, there is no electricity supply at all. You won’t even see a single PHCN pole, let alone electricity.

“How many people have access to computers and how many can make use of it? Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt are just a few cities that have a high percentage of people who are computer literate. CBT is a good move but the infrastructural deficit in the country will hinder it.”

However, the Registrar, Beacon Co-educational College, Ifo, Ogun State, Mr. Joel Effiong, said that the new electronic UTME was a welcome development.

He said, “Online UTME will go a long way to improve computer literacy in Nigeria and help curb examination malpractice which is one of the major challenges facing JAMB. When the scratch cards and online registration were introduced, people complained that it was tedious and rigorous, and that candidates were not computer literate to handle the registration process. Today, we can say it is a success.

“We will not rule out the fact that there will be challenges at the onset especially with poor power supply in the country coupled with the fact that some centres may not be fully equipped with computers as planned by JAMB. But these setbacks may not be much of a problem because JAMB has opened special exam centres with full ICT facilities. These centres will operate along your traditional centres within the first three years,” he said.

He, however, advised JAMB to make the CBT tutorial materials available for candidates. These materials, he argued, would help candidates to understand the new method before they sit for the examination.

 “These tutorial materials can be distributed to JAMB tutorial centres and schools before the commencement of the exam or they can be sold at designated JAMB registration outlets,” he added.

The Parents Teachers Association Chairman, Kings’ College, Lagos, Mr. Emman Oriakhni, said that the move to start online UTME would go well if JAMB took their time to good planning.

He said, “JAMB should experiment and thread softly. We can’t dispute the fact that the percentage of pupils who are computer literate is more than the percentage of pupils who are not.

“I feel they should first make Computer Studies compulsory in schools. This would boost the level of computer literacy in the country and facilitate the move to start online UTME.”

But a senior member of staff of JAMB in Lagos Office of the examination body, Mr. Chima Akano, said candidates had nothing to worry about as the body had perfected its strategies for the initiative.

He said, “There have been reports reaching us that candidates are becoming apprehensive about the CBT. This is just a trial. They have nothing to fear because they would have options; Paper Pencil Test, PPT and Dual Based Test, Computer and Paper. So they would have the freedom to choose. However, by 2015 CBT will become the only option.”

He added that JAMB had embarked on massive training and awareness strategies to get candidates familiar with CBT.

“All over the world, there are e-learning, e-banking, e-books so why should we not have e-testing here in Nigeria? The main reason why JAMB kicked off with CBT is because we wanted to pursue e-learning. We can’t fold our hands and watch other countries move ahead.”

Explaining how the process would work, Akano said, “CBT UTME is going to be written in batches for 17 days. Candidates would be split into phases and this will be done in such a way that there would be enough laptops and desktop computers at our various centres across the country.

“Also, all batches will have different exam questions. The questions would not be repeated. This is to avoid the issue of question leakages, because candidates are going to write the exam on different days. All the necessary instruments to guide the candidates have been included in the computer-based form which they are going to purchase.

“We opted for candidates to write in batches so as to curb malpractice and exam fraud. If we decided to do it the normal way of allowing all candidates to write the exam in one day, the laptops and the computers would certainly not be enough.”

Akano said that for candidates living in rural areas, JAMB had already designated some centres and that candidates would be posted to centres close to them. So they may not need to travel far distances to write the exam.

“Some universities in these rural areas may be used as centres as long as they have all necessary facilities. In future candidates would not have to travel. With their laptop or computer system, they would be able to write the exam in their living room,” he said.

In spite of Akano’s explanation, some prospective candidates who spoke with our correspondent did not trust the system.

 “I don’t have problem with the CBT but with the challenges that will trail it. If there is power failure, will they add to our time? How are those candidates living in the rural areas cope? How will our results be assessed? Will our results not be tampered with? Why can’t they wait till 2015 before they introduce it? They should use the period between now and 2015 to train candidates,” one of them, Akinola Tayo said.