10th April, 2012
Some stakeholders in the education sector have commended the West African Examination Council (WAEC) for its positive contribution to the nation’s education system in its 60 year’s of existence.
The stakeholders told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) is separate interviews in Lagos on Monday that WAEC, which celebrated its 60th anniversary on March 26, had performed well especially in tests and measurements.
The Vice-Chancellor, Covenant University, Ota in Ogun State, Professor Aize Obayan, said the Council had been very effective in its different evaluation strategies over the years.
“I believe that WAEC has performed well because we have continued to see improvements,” she said, adding that it had contributed positively to the manpower development of Nigeria.
“As WAEC looks forward to celebrating more years of excellence, we should begin to look at the models of test and measurement and how these would translate into the contents of curriculum.
“We cannot look at this without looking at the quality of our teachers,” she said.
Mr. Michael Alogba-Olukoya, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, said the body had over the years sustained its credibility, but urged it to intensify efforts to check examination leakages.
He also said that assessments by the council had impacted positively on Nigeria’s education system.
“The council is improving every day; it has helped to mirror what the education sector is all about and, at the same time, helped in enhancing the quality of students and its certificates.
“I want the council to put better measures in place that would checkmate leakages and ensure release of results at the shortest possible time.
“This will enable candidates to decide on their future in good time,” he said.
On his part, Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie, the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, also scored WAEC high but said that there was still room for improvement.
Awuzie said that examination malpractice and mass failures of candidates in WAEC examinations had consistently showed poor preparations by schools and candidates.
“School are not well equipped and teachers not properly motivated; so, the students will only opt for the easiest means of passing examination, but WAEC has done a good job in terms of assessment,” he said.