“Computer-Based Testing Is Inevitable” ---Ikazoboh, Dragnet Solutions’ MD

According to Ikazoboh, JAMB deserves commendation for taking the bold step in adopting CBT. “I think JAMB should be praised for this bold move. The truth is that it is inevitable that Nigeria would adopt it; so why not start now?

Lagos (I-Newswire) March 4, 2013 - Even as the controversy over the planned implementation of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) in this year’s Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) examination rages on, Mr. Robert Ikazoboh, the Managing Director of Dragnet Solutions, promoters of the Face Of Testing (FOT) product, Nigeria’s first indigenous CBT Solutions provider, has stressed that the adoption of the initiative is inevitable in the Nigerian education sector.

This CBT move will drag Nigeria into the realities of the 21st century as far as education, assessments and testing is concerned and that is why we commend and support the initiative,” he said.

Speaking on the directive by the House of Representatives that the plan of adopting CBT be suspended by JAMB, Ikazoboh noted that the reservations expressed towards the move are understandable, given that it has never been tried before. He, however, called on the House of Reps to give CBT a chance because, in his words, “it is the future of education in Nigeria.” “I can understand all of the agitations that the CBT concept has generated. It is something new to the Nigerian system and that’s why people are suspicious of it. Indeed, Education is such a delicate thing and if you understand that it is the powerhouse of any serious nation, then you will see why our Reps are treading with caution. But I want to appeal to them to give CBT a chance. Technology is the future and CBT is the future of education in Nigeria. The benefits of it are so numerous that we can’t afford to be left behind,” he added.

Speaking further, Ikazoboh praised JAMB for what he described as the phased adoption of CBT. “The beauty of what JAMB is doing is that the body is not forcing CBT down the throats of everyone taking the exam this year. JAMB has come out to say that they will start this year with a pilot scheme of CBT. They will be using it along with the Paper to Pen Testing (PPT) until 2015, when CBT will fully come on board for all JAMB examinations. Within that frame of time, JAMB would have tested the system, discovered the lapses and rectified them. The students will also have the option of choosing whether they want CBT or PPT from now until 2015. By doing this, JAMB would be able to tweak the system and address all the issues that may negatively affect it before fully implementing it,” he explained.

Ikazoboh listed some of the advantages of deploying CBT to include the eradication of unwholesome acts during examinations, including incidences of ghost candidates, spying and the use of mercenaries. He added that CBT will bring efficiency, cost effectiveness, greater turn-around time in the release of results, credibility, amongst other advantages to JAMB examinations.

He also expressed confidence that JAMB would be able to deploy CBT examinations and address all the fears being expressed about the initiative. “CBT is not rocket science. With the right technical support, JAMB can achieve immense success using CBT in their examinations. As promoters of Face Of Testing (FOT), Nigeria’s first and only indigenous CBT Solutions providers, we know the immense advantages of using it, and that is why we stand behind JAMB in the move,” he stated.