By Joy Odor
The Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umar Bago has on Monday bemoaned that the existing laws governing the National Examination Council (NECO) has been obsolete and mandated the National Assembly to introduce a new Bill for reform and amendments to be in tandem with technology, time and innovation.
This is even as the Governor Bago, informed that it is important to look into the existing laws that guides NECO in the conduct of its various examinations to address issues of artificial intelligence.
He stated this at a one day Retreat by NECO titled “Legislative Functions: The Imperatives of Achieving NECO’s Mandate and the Challenges of Examination Legislation in Nigeria held in Abuja which in attendance are the Registrar/Chief Executive of NECO, Professor Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, Senator Abba Moro, among others.
The Niger State Governor who is the Chairman of the occasion affirmed that the retreat is very timely and happy that the members of National Assembly are fully represented to look into the examination bodies like NECO, believing that the artificial intelligence has come to stay which Nigeria law must also be able to key into the technological advancements and evolving needs of the educational landscape.
“I only call on NECO and stakeholders to expand it beyond this hall so that other stakeholders will have input and also be able to come out with a robust policy and laws in order to be sent to national assembly,” he said.
Earlier in his address, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, the Registrar and Chiel Executive National Examinations Council (NECO) who identified infrastructure Constraints, surge in candidate enrollment, inadequate funding, examination malpractice, amongst others as some of the key hurdles faced by the examination body hence the need in fulfilling NECO’s mandate for a robust legislative framework.
The Registrar hampered that the challenges underscore the critical need for a comprehensive national examination law specificaly regulating all aspects of examinations in Nigeria, noting that the examination bodies lack such a law, relying instead on a patchwork of regulations across examination bodies and individual schools.
“This gathering signifies a momentous occasion a collaborative effort between the National Assembly’s Senas Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, the House Committee on Basic Examination Bodies, and NECO, It underscores our collective commitment to building a more robust, more equitable national assessment system in Nigeria that fosters educational excellence and empowers our youth.
“his creates vulnerabilities in the system. Effective examination legislation offers a multitude of benefits:
“Standardization and fairness: Establish standardized procedures for test administration, marking, and security protocols, ensuring a level playing field for all students, regardless of their location or background Credibility and Integrity: Clearly defined regulations and strong enforcement mechanisms deter malpractice and ensure that examination results accurately reflect student achievement, of location or background
“Adaptability and Future-Proofing: Legislation should adapt to evolving pedagogy and assessment practices trends.
“A national law can establish a framework that allows for incorporating new technologies like computer-based testing (CBT) or alternative assessment methods while maintaining core principles of fairness and security.
“Harmonization with International Standards: Strong examination legislation can contribute to aligning Nigerian qualifications with international standards.
“This retreat presents a timely opportunity to propose a bill titled “The Conduct of Examinations in Nigeria This bill aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework for all forms of examinations in Nigerian schools.
“It seeks to address the current fragmentation of regulations and promote a standardized and credible national assessment system” he said.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Sununu Tanko mentioned that despite the significance of the examination legislation, they cannot ignore the challenges faced, from outdated laws and validation to emerging issues like examination malpractice and digital transformation.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, the Minister stressed the urgent need to review and modernise the legislative framework to effectively address these challenges.
He urged the participants to actively engaged in the discussions to enable NECO effectively achieve its mandate.
“NECO plays an indispensable role in ensuring the sustainable management of our educational landscape” he noted.
