Inscribe NIN, DOB, photograph on certificates, FG directs WAEC, NECO, others

The National Identification Number (NIN), Date of Birth, and a photograph embossed on each certificate result given to eligible applicants who take their various exams are the three identifiers that the Federal Government has instructed public examination boards to include going forward.



During the inauguration of a committee on Thursday in Abuja, Education Minister Dr. Olatunji Alausa issued the directive to transition the current paper-based exams administered by the West African Examination Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO), and National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) to computer-based tests (CBT) within the next three years.



He declared that the country would fully switch from paper-based exams to computer-based testing (CBT) by 2027, utilising technology to improve test quality.



Alausa declared war against examination malpractices, while also urging members of the committee to come up with strategies to tackle the menace, especially elimination of examination leakages causing national embarrassment.



The committee which has Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede as the chairman was given up to June this year to submit report.



The Minister lamented the rising cases of examination malpractices and identity theft, saying engraving NIN, Date of Birth and picture of candidates in certificates results issued to them would tremendously reduce some these unwholesome practices.



He described as unfortunate situations where parents, teachers, principals of schools and school owners collude to help students cheat in examinations.Best online courses



Speaking on terms of reference of the committee, Alausa said government had to look at the entire ecosystem of examinations in the country, because there are various players in examination malpractices.



“We have the students, we also have the parents contributing to the exams malpractices, encouraging their children.



“We have the teachers, we have the principals of schools as well, and also we have people supervising these exams and we are targeting all of these areas,” he said.



The six terms of reference for this committee are: One, to eliminate exam leakages in the country; two, identify the problem of examination identity theft, and provide a solution on how we can eliminate that.

The committee's third area of focus will be switching the exam from its present paper-based format to computer-based testing, or CBT, within the next three years.



"We intend to make all of our exams computer-based within the next three years. Our goal is 2027, and we will put forth a lot of effort to see it through to completion. Technology must be used to support our endeavours.



Additionally, the committee will concentrate on local candidate shifting. Additionally, they will be trying to improve the oversight of examination quality. We will develop guidelines for exam supervisors.



"I have ordered all of our examination organisations' registrars to include three IDs on the certificates they issue for test results by the end of this year, namely for WAEC, NECO, NAPTEB, and anybody else's next exam, which is scheduled for May, June, and July.



First among those identifiers will be the candidates' National Identification Number. The second requirement is that the certificates bear the candidate's photograph imprinted on them. "And the third is their birthdate," he said.