The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has commended the National Examinations Council (NECO) for its adoption of technology, particularly the transition to Computer-Based Examinations (CBE).
Alausa said the reforms had strengthened the council’s capacity to conduct credible examinations and improve examination administration.
He spoke at a meeting with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools and other education stakeholders.
Alausa specifically praised the leadership of NECO Registrar, Professor Dantani Wushishi, for what he described as “significant improvements in the examination body.”
“I can tell you today, with all unequivocation, NECO is better placed. NECO conducts better exams. NECO uses better technology,” Alausa said.
He also commended the council for its speed in adopting computer-based testing, describing its technological transformation as “amazing”.
“When we also go to this CBT, they move quickly, they deploy better technology. The transformation of NECO, amazing,” he said.
Alausa said the government’s decision to retain Wushishi’s leadership 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.
The Minister said the government was focused on delivering value in the education sector.
“This thing is not about patronage to us. It’s not about patronage, it’s about value,” he said.
He said the increased use of technology was also important in tackling examination malpractice, which he described as a major threat to the integrity of Nigeria’s education system.
Alausa said; “examination question leakages undermined the credibility of public examinations and disadvantaged students who prepared honestly.”
He warned that continued tolerance of malpractice could create a situation where honest students would be encouraged to compromise their integrity.
“The danger was that the good students would also become bad,” he said.
The Minister urged parents, teachers, school proprietors, principals, invigilators and students to support efforts to strengthen the integrity of public examinations.
The Nigerian Government is gradually converting NECO examinations from the traditional Paper-Pencil Test to Computer-Based Examination as part of efforts to improve efficiency, strengthen examination security and reduce malpractice.
NECO’s digital reforms include online registration, biometric verification, computer-based testing for selected examinations, digital certificates and automated grading.
The council also conducts examinations in countries outside Nigeria for candidates and schools offering the Nigerian curriculum.
NECO, which recently marked its 25th anniversary, says its examinations have impacted almost 35 million Nigerians since its establishment.
The council has also pledged to deepen investment in technology, human capital and institutional processes to strengthen fairness, credibility and integrity in examination administration.
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