Lagos begins pilot computer-based test for pupils

Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye

The Lagos State Government has commenced the pilot computer-based test with candidates seeking admission to its Junior Model and upgraded secondary schools.

The CBT started last Saturday with 18 pupils participating in the exercise.

The exercise, conducted by the state Examination Board, also had 8,682 others writing the regular Paper Pencil Test.

The Director, LSEB, Mr. Femi Hassan, said the decision to introduce the CBT was to reduce examination malpractice, as well as to prepare the pupils for the digital age.

The board, he added, would conduct the 2016 junior secondary school certificate examination using the CBT.

“As a government, we saw that we have the capacity to go CBT and we decided to pilot the scheme and today, it is a success.

“We wanted 20 candidates for the pilot scheme, hence it was limited so that we can draw from the experience. In CBT, questions are randomised, pupils cannot copy each other, your number one question is not the same with others,” he said.

While monitoring the examination, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, said that the CBT had come to stay in the state.

She said, “You will recall that the last examination that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board conducted was computer based and whether we like it or not, we are going to start computer based test in our schools. That is why we thought that at this stage of children’s development, let us experiment and see how it goes. And we can see that the candidates coped very well, I am pleased with the conduct of the examination.

“About 18 of them are writing the CBT mode; I feel really elated and fulfilled because that is what I had always wanted to happen. Everything seems calm, the children are writing their examination, the question papers are sufficient and the answer sheets have their pictures embroiled on it. The pupils are serious minded and I can see the enthusiasm on them.”

The commissioner, who commended the examination board for the initiative, added that the state government was planning to accommodate the increasing number candidates in future examinations.

“Today’s examination is better than last year and we will continue to improve in the shortest of time to attain success’’ she said.

The 15 Model Colleges and Upgraded Schools are Model Junior College, Meiran; Vetland Junior Grammar School, Ifako Ijaiye; Model Junior College, Igbokuta; Civil Service Model Junior College, Igbogbo; Oriwu Model Junior College, Ikorodu; Government Junior College, Ikorodu.

Others are Model Junior College, Igbonla; Model Junior College, Agbowa; Model Junior College Badore; and Lagos State Junior Model College, Ojo.

Eva Adelaja Memorial Junior Secondary, Bariga; Model Junior College, Kankon; Government Junior College, Ketu, Epe; Epe Junior Grammar, Epe; and Badagry Junior Grammar School, Badagry.