Caleb VC advocates sanction for special centre schools

Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju
| credits: File copy

The Vice-Chancellor, Caleb University, Imota Lagos, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju, has frowned on the use of special centres for examinations in the country.

 He stated this on the sidelines of a seminar organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board in Lagos on Wednesday.

The seminar was to sensitise pupils drawn from about 50public and private schools on Computer Based Tests. It took place at the Caleb International College, Magodo.

 Olukoju, who urged the regulatory bodies to stop the use of special centres, said their existence put bright students at a disadvantage.

 He said, “I have heard about special centres and I have been wondering:  special centres for whom and by what means?

 “I think the regulatory bodies like JAMB and WAEC should be very firm on these things because they are placing quality candidates at a disadvantage.

“I think that the regulatory body, such as JAMB has the power on its own to say no to  special schools and if they exist, there must be a code by which you can isolate them.

 He added that pupils should be left to fail or pass on their own, saying “my own position is that we should not break the standard because someone has paid more money or comes from a particular background.”

On the benefit of CBT, Olukoju lauded the board for organising such an event, saying the use of ICT toolswould place  pupils from various backgrounds on the same pedestal.

The professor of History noted that the process should be taken one step at a time, expressing optimism that JAMB would have learnt from last year’s errors.

 Explaining that CBT would not translate into increased performance of pupils in examinations, Olukoju said it had the potential to reduce the rate of examination malpractice.

“Performance will still vary; there will still be outstanding pupils, there will still be poor pupils, but then let us give them a chance.

“We have been using CBT for some years. What we have discovered is that, if we vary the questions, the person sitting next to you is not answering the same set of questions and it is extremely difficult for you to spy what he is doing.

“I believe that this computer-based system is customised to suit each candidate. To that extent, I believe we have a modicum of quality and fairness in dealing with our candidates,” he said.

The Coordinator of JAMB in Lagos, Kamaldeen Oladeji, noted that schools should have enough ICT facilities for e-learning.