WAEC to mark scripts electronically

The West African Examination Council (WAEC) will begin marking theory scripts electronically with the 2016 November/December West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

WAEC’s Head of National Office, Mr Olutise Adenipekun, who spoke when members of the Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (EWAN) visited his office on Tuesday, said the e-marker was introduced to align the assessment of the examination with international best practices.

“We are providing service and the people we are providing service for are youths of the country and youth naturally are restless. So they also want to see new things,” he said.

Adenipekun explained that the same booklet would serve for question and answers for the theory section. As a result, candidates would no longer be allowed to take questions away from the examination hall.

He said some teachers have undergone training to deploy the e-marker, adding that many more would be trained.

He promised that the WAEC template of assessing candidates will remain the same adding that it will not be in the interest of Nigeria to lower the standard of the examination for whatever reason.

Adenipekun praised EWAN for its foresight and contributions to national growth and development through quality reports.

In his speech, the EWAN Chairman, Mr. Tunbosun Ogundare, thanked WAEC for recognising the association.

He also pledged the commitment of the body to improved education coverage towards achieving the required reform in the sector.

He however appealed to the management of the examination body to extend training and other collaborative programmes to the association’s members as a way of enhancing their knowledge of the education sector, saying such support will help the beneficiaries in the discharge of their responsibilities.