Lagos begins computer-based exams in 10 schools

In readiness for the commencement of computer-based examinations in public secondary schools in Lagos State, the state government has identified 10 public secondary schools as pilot for the exercise in the state, the Commissioner for Education, Olayinka Oladunjoye, has said.
Oladunjoye, who spoke in Lagos on Tuesday at an interactive session with principals and vice-principals of public secondary schools in Lagos, explained that the pilot scheme was necessitated by the fact that the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board has introduced Computer Based Testing to conduct its examination while other examining bodies such as WAEC and NECO have similarly signified intention to follow suit.
She listed the 10 schools as including Agidingbi Senior Secondary School, Ikeja; Oregun Senior High School, Ikeja; Immaculate Heart Comprehensive Senior High School, Maryland; Ebute Elefun Senior High School, Lagos; Araromi/IIogbo Senior Secondary School; State Senior High School, Oyewole, Agege; Aguda Senior Grammar School, Aguda; Oke-Afa Senior Secondary School, Isolo; and St. Joseph Senior Secondary School, Mushin.
She said: “For Lagos State not be left behind, there is the need for the state to pilot the scheme, hence we are starting by providing ICT facilities in schools, train teachers and expose our students to the Computer Based Testing through internal examinations such as MOCK examinations to prepare them for the external examinations.”
Oladunjoye noted that in addition, two teachers in each of the 10 piloted schools will be trained on the CBT, adding that the provision of Information, Communication and Technology facilities in public schools in the state would be continued in order to ensure that all public schools are covered.
“The training will be a continuous exercise to ensure that all the state senior secondary schools are covered and the trained teachers will in turn train the students in their respective schools,” Oladunjoye averred.
The commissioner also listed the new approved promotion criteria for 2013/20014 academic year in public secondary schools in Lagos to include an average of 50 per cent pass, including in Maths and English Language, for students in JJ1 going to JJ11 and JJ11 to JJ111; credit pass in six subject at JSCE, including in Maths and English language for students going from JJ111 to SS1; 50 per cent credit pass in six subjects, including Maths and English Language, for students in SS1 going to SS11, 50 per cent in five subjects, including Maths and English Language, as well as 50 per cent cumulative pass at a screening test; 50 per cent attendance of the parent at a Parents’ Forum; and 90 per cent student’s attendance in school.
The commissioner opined that it is very imperative that the new approved promotion criteria be adhered to in order to sustain and maintain the relatively model successes that was recorded in last West Africa School Certificate Examinations.
Oladunjoye commended the principal and vice principals as well their teachers for their efforts in the success recorded at the last WASCE just as she charged them to take ownership of their various schools adding that by so doing they will continue to excel both in academics and morals.
She also disclosed the list of approved items and their prices for the year 2013/2014 academic session, adding that the approved items are a badge for N150, a tie for N200, a file for N80, a beret/cap for N400, sports wear for N600, birth certificate or age declaration by sworn affidavit of the student and the tax clearance certificate of the student’s parent.
The commissioner warned that no school should engage in the sale of schools’ uniform to students as earlier recommended and that the existing hostel requirements for students in boarding houses for the 2013/2014 academic session remain valid.
She pointed out that students, especially from SS1, are expected to be border students in all Model/Upgraded Schools in the state, just as she reiterated government’s ban on the transfer of students into public secondary schools.
She noted that the policy is a deliberate one by government to ease the pressure on infrastructure in public schools occasioned by the transfer policy.