In line with global best practices, the Nigerian National Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has concluded plans to migrate its West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates’ examination diets from paper and pencil tests to computer-based examination (CBE).
‘Diets’ refer to the various categories of exams that WAEC Nigeria conducts annually, namely, WASSCE for School Candidates and WASSCE for Private Candidates (1st & 2nd Series).
A statement issued by its Public Affairs department and signed by the acting head, Moyosola F. Adesina, noted that the innovation will commence with WASSCE for private candidates, 2024 – first series, which is slated to hold in February 2024.
— WAEC NIGERIA (@waecnigeria) November 13, 2023
“While the objective tests will be fully computer-based, the essay and test of practical papers will be hybrid, in which the examination questions will be delivered on screen; and candidates will be required to write answers on the answer booklets given to them.
“The examination will be conducted in urban centres/cities, and candidates with special needs have been factored into the plan. Registration for the examination will commence on Monday, December 18, 2023.
“In order to enable candidates to familiarize themselves with the new examination platform, arrangements have been concluded for a mock examination to be conducted in February 2024 before the examination commences,” the statement read.
The council implored all prospective candidates to hone their computer skills and be fully prepared to embrace this innovation.
“As Africa’s foremost examining body, providing qualitative and reliable educational assessment, encouraging academic and moral excellence, it is the vision of the council that in the near future, all its examinations will be delivered via the computer,” it added.
