Reviewing JAMB’s computer-based test model

THE 2014/2015 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination for placement of Nigerian students into various tertiary institutions across the country has thrown up several experiences, inadequacies and challenges that have made it imperative for an urgent rethink of the model that has been adopted for the exercise.

All the about 1.8 million candidates who sat for the examination were made to write the test through the use of computers. The method, known as Computer Base Test (CBT) did not give an option for a paper and pencil-based (PPBT) test. This was not the case in 2013/2014 when candidates were given an option to choose between the CBT and PPBT.

Also, unlike in 2013/2014 where students were allowed to register for the examination through any available cybercafes, the 2014/2015 exercise limited registration to accredited and limited centres.

The JAMB model runs contrary to the practice by similar examination bodies such as the West African Examination Council (WAEC), the National Examination Council (NECO) and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), which carry out their examination registrations online from any Internet point.

The allowance for the CBT and PPBT option in the 2013/2014 gave room for more designated centres in which candidates could write the test. It is on record that as at 2013/2014 when the PPBT was allowed alongside the CBT, about 4000 centres in 400 examination towns were available for students to choose from.

This made it possible for students to write the examination in centres close to their areas of abode. This was not the case with the 2014/2015 exercise where the available centres reduced considerably to about 250.

The limitation of the examination centres was such that candidates had to travel from their locations to centres far away from them. In some cases, they had to travel from one town to the other.

Another reality of the limitation of the point of registration for the JAMB test is that business and employment were denied several private cybercafe operators, thereby impacting negatively on government’s drive to provide jobs to Nigerians and encourage small-scale enterprises.

Also, the limited number of CBT centres also denied easy access to candidates, who were scattered all over Nigeria, to effect registration and the eventual writing of the examination. Now, candidates have to travel to centres, (often many kilometres away from home), to register as well as write the test.

The experiences of several candidates during the 2014/2015 exercise make the reversion of the model inevitable.

There were reports, for instance, of how young children, many who had hitherto not left their immediate environment since birth, were subjected to maltreatment, denial of rights of choice of type of examination etc.

From enquiry, many of these kids left their homes about 6:00am and did not return till about 9:00pm, with some even tarrying till 12:00 midnight with no adequate supportive welfare package.

Reports have it also, that those in WAEC centres for instance, because they finished late, were packed like sardine into a hall to pass the night like refugees; not minding their age and sex.

There was a case of non-functional computers in Owerri (home state of the JAMB Board Chairman) where candidates had to be “ferried” to Orlu for the examination. Most of these candidates finished around 9:00pm and were compelled to find their ways back to Owerri town by commercial transport at the risk of their lives.

It is also unfortunate that many candidates that wrote the 2014/2015 examination could not receive their results, four days after, and in cases where some were dispatched, only two subjects out of four were released. All these ran contrary to the reasons adduced by the CEO of JAMB for jettisoning the PPBT in preference for the CBT model.

Apart from the attendant risks to our children, the CBT, as the only available method, has also automatically increased the cost of registration with the payment of hotel bills by candidates who had to travel from one town to the other where there are computer facilities, with probably another escort, who would accompany the candidate to the centre for each of the processes.

This model compels our young children to move en masse during the period of the examination across very dangerous and risky roads and environments, especially in a country with several security challenges.

My conclusion, however, is that JAMB did not act in tandem with the challenge of our environment, the state of our children’s computer literacy and accessibility and may have lost its ability to think rationally in the best interest of our children and their parents or guardians and may have therefore outlived its usefulness.

While one is not advocating the sack of the CEO of JAMB, he should be compelled to revert to status quo or worst still, adopt a combination of the PPT along with the CBT, as it is the case in the developed countries of the world.

Reverting to the 2013/2014 exercise where it allowed candidates make a free choice between the PBT and the CBT, will ensure that all the almost previously 4000 centers and 400 examination towns are opened up on JAMB portals for registration by candidates.

Computer literacy in the country is still very low and only a handful of schools are equipped with computers, even where there are computers, they are still grossly inadequate.

In working towards the CBT only method, which may be desirable in the long run, much as it may be in sync with the long term goal of government to computerize our education system, JAMB should give a moratorium period of between 10 and 15 years before the CBT could possibly be made compulsory.

This is the practice in some countries where this model was adapted. The Netherlands, which JAMB is understudying, has been working on this system for over 25 years, yet did not make CBT compulsory. It still allows for the PPBT, realizing the intricacies of computer technology in examination taking. This, is, despite the fact, that the country has capacity to deploy technical competency for wholesale adoption of the model in question.

I recommend that JAMB should allow for more time to enable government and other stakeholders in the education sector to equip more schools with computers, increase deliberately, training on computer literacy and teachers, hence the teaching of computer education from primary to post-primary schools.

Government should make the teaching and learning of computer appreciation compulsory in schools before we start to think of making CBT compulsory in Nigeria.

I also recommend that the National Assembly (NASS) should intervene by asking JAMB to provide the list of CBT and PBT centres and locations from inception along with the accredited cyber cafes that supported and provided registration in 2013, 2014 and 2015 respectively.

As a matter of urgency, NASS should immediately ask JAMB to stop the compulsory introduction of only CBT matriculation in Nigeria sine die.

• Odeyinka, is the Chief Operating Officer, Numbers Communications Company (NCC).