JAMB To Start Computer-Based Test In 2015

THE National Council on Education has given tacit approval for complete phase-out of the paper-pencil mode in the conduct of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, thus paving the way for a full scale introduction of Computer-Based Test by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board next year.
JAMB had, following the success it recorded in the last UTME through the CBT mode, insisted that it would commence full-scale CBT in 2015.
NCE, the highest policy-making body on education in Nigeria, gave the approval for the conduct of UTME through only the Computer-Based Test from 2015 at its just-concluded 60th meeting held at Abeokuta
.
A communiqué issued and made available to newsmen in Abuja also indicated that the Draft National Education Quality Assurance Policy and its adoption by states, Federal Capital Territory and other relevant stakeholders have been approved by the council.
The council meeting, which had the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, urged the Federal Ministry of Education and relevant agencies to adhere strictly to the admission policy of 30:70 ratio in favour of Technical/Trade subjects.
The NCE also directed the National Universities Commission (NUC ) to work with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in order to conclude the process of articulation of National Diploma (ND) graduates of Innovative Enterprise Institutions (IEIs) to 200-Level in universities.
The move is ostensibly to remove the current discrimination meted to graduates of the institutions while trying to pursue further studies at the universities.
Some other resolutions of the council include approval of national and zonal advocacy, sensitization and monitoring programmes on Open and Distance Learning in Nigeria as well as the Draft National Vocational Education Curriculum for adoption by the states, FCT and other stakeholders.
Other approvals are: “Change of the Almajiri nomenclature to Tsangaya; the Draft Early Learning Development Standards for implementation by states, FCT and other relevant stakeholders; uniform standards for the non-formal skills acquisition centres to enable them key into the existing examining body for assessment and award of certificate; one-year pre-primary curriculum; printing of Blue Print and National Policy on Albinism and the draft National Policy on Special Needs Education and Guidelines for implementation by stakeholders.”
The council also urged states and the FCT to strictly adhere to the approved implementation plan of Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) to enable the nation derive its full benefits while also collaborating with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) in the training of teachers for effective implementation of the revised BEC.
The states and FCT are also to pay a minimum of N7,500 monthly allowance to part-time facilitators in Adult and Youth Literacy Programme.
The Federal Ministry of Education, states and FCT have also been urged to employ and train security personnel, install surveillance gadgets as well as strengthen school perimeter fencing and gates in the schools in view of the current security challenges and frequent attacks on schools by insurgents.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau disclosed that he would in the next few days announce details of his priority in the months ahead.
He called for the institutionalization of incentives for teachers to attract best brains in the profession. Such incentives, he said, should include scholarship for students who indicate interest to study education, capacity building for teachers and clear career progression.
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