We can all put the speculations to rest. . . at least for a while, as Nigeria's House of Representatives on Tuesday, directed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to suspend its newly introduced computer-based test (CBT).
The test was supposed to replace the old, on-site, classroom, paper-and-pencil tests which has been the norm since the inception of the exam body.
The computer-based test was purported to replace the old one, where students were required to take the test on computers. The CBT was to have commenced with the 2013 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scheduled for Saturday, April 27.
Now the lawmakers want them to revert to the former method. Possibly angered by the new proposal, they've summoned the Minister of Education, Professor Rukayyatu Rufa’i and the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Dibu Ojerinde, to provide explanations on what it tagged, “policy somersault” in view of the CBT introduced by the board.
The duo are also expected to explain the law through which they derived the powers to contract out the conduct of examinations to private firms.
The House’s resolution was sequel to a motion moved under matters of urgent public importance by Honourable Aliyu Madaki, where he kicked against the development.
The lawmaker in his motion argued that there was no justifiable reason behind the change in take-off of the policy from 2013 to 2015, stating that the firms to which the exercise was contracted to were also yet to be made public.
Finally, the House is coming down to the people's level and serving as a buffer to some high-handedness by our public officials.
Such a change cannot, and should not be so sudden. There has to be a lot of debate and sensitization by the exam board, and of course. . .
A recourse to laws which would give the change the permanence they require.
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