By Alice Etuka, Abuja
The National Examination Council (NECO) alongside the National Assembly (Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education and House of Representative Committee on Basic Examination Bodies) have stressed the need to revisit the laws governing examinations in the country.
They disclosed this on Monday, May 6, 2024 at a one-day retreat titled “Legislative Functions: The Imperatives of Achieving NECO’s Mandate and the Challenges of Examination Legislation in Nigeria”, held in Abuja.
Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi stated that, as a foremost national examination body conducting five crucial examinations annually, NECO bore a significant responsibility.
Wushishi therefore informed that the retreat presented a timely opportunity to propose a bill titled, “The Conduct of Examinations in Nigeria.”
This bill, he said aim to establish a comprehensive legal framework for all forms of examinations in Nigerian schools. It also seeks to address the current fragmentation of regulations and promote a standardised and credible national assessment system.
Similarly, Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu stated that NECO’s mandates were diverse, encompassing the conduct of examinations, the issuance of certificates, and the provision of valuable data for educational planning and development. However, the effectiveness of NECO’s operations were intricately linked to the legislative environment it operates.
He added that, “Legislation not only establishes the legal framework for NECO’s activities but also acts as a mechanism for safeguarding the integrity of examinations, protecting students’ rights, and ensuring accountability and transparency in assessment procedures.
“Despite the significance of examination legislation, we cannot ignore the challenges we face in this realm. From outdated laws and regulations to emerging issues like examination malpractice and digital transformation, there is an urgent need to review and modernize our legislative frameworks to effectively address these evolving challenges”.
On his part, the Executive Governor of Niger State, Umaru Bago in his remarks noted that challenges of technology to true examination testing must be redefined.
Also, “examination malpractice must be redefined. While we were growing up, we had four-figure tables, you couldn’t use calculators in exam. But now you are using computer to write exam. But the laws that are governing NECO are obsolete and they don’t recognise these challenges. So this retreat is timely. It calls on my colleagues at the National Assembly to double up and make sure that we are on speed with time”, he said.
