The National Examinations Council (NECO) as part of its bid to tackle exam malpractice has come out with a new policy, indication from the Federal Government has shown.
This was announced by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, during NECO’s 25th anniversary celebration held in Abuja today.
The minister said the NECO would begin conducting computer-based examinations this year, not only as part of efforts to tackle examination malpractice, but also to modernise the country’s assessment system.
According to him, NECO remains a key institution in protecting integrity and accountability in the education sector, and the new policy is a significant step in strengthening the credibility of the examination, the minister added:
“We are at the threshold of a very important reform, which NECO is spearheading, and that is the Computer-Based Examination, which is to commence this year,” the minister said, adding that this would also enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in global education standards.
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The minister praised the achievements that the NECO had made in the education sector listing these to include:
- improved examination security,
- enhanced scoring reliability,
- expanded access to examinations in underserved communities and
- embracing technological innovations that restored public confidence in its certificates.
Alausa stated that the Federal Ministry of Education would continue to do its job as an oversight ministry to NECO, helping to keep it on track, in checkmating exam malpractice and other breaches.
He also underscored the need for educational assessments to embrace modern and problem-solving skills.
“As we celebrate this Silver Jubilee, may NECO and the Ministry of Education continue to work in unison, fostering trust, driving reform, and ensuring that certification remains a passport to brighter futures for all students,” he added.
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