Oyewunmi Omolara.
One of the invigilators of the recently concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination wrote about some of the challenges the candidates faced.
The concerned Nigerian, Eniolaoluwa, with the handle @Ennyraquel on Instagram, wrote about her experience at a centre in Ilorin, Kwara State:
* In a hall of about 250 JAMB candidates only 10 can successfully use a computer.
* Most of the candidates do not have the most basic Computer knowledge. They cannot scroll, they cannot locate letters on the keyboard, they are terrified at the sight of a mouse and cannot understand the function of the computer.
* There was a mock exam which JAMB set to expose them to computers and have them know what to expect on the day of the exams.
All the aforementioned then spark these questions:
– Did they take part in the mock exam?
– Were they truly prepared for the exam itself?
– Were computers available for the mock exam?
– Whose job is it to prepare the candidates for computer usage in the exams?
As much as I admire her lofty and passionate writing and position on the subject, I cannot say I agree with all she said.
First, if JAMB knew there was a short video, they could have had it on their social media platforms such that it could go viral bearing in mind that there are millions who would take this exam. In the same vein, not everyone will grasp what that video shows before the exam because some of them are already under undue pressure.
Secondly, there is a greater problem of computer literacy or illiteracy as it were. We really need to be asking ourselves: As they prepare for this exam, are they computer literate? How many of them have seen a computer (not a laptop)? How many of them can operate the computer (for the most basic use)? Do their schools have computers? Do they have access to them?
In public schools, funds are misappropriated, the computers might not be functional or the students might not have access to them. Unfortunately, some private schools also have this challenge as they have computers as side attraction on their fliers but the students never get to use them.
NOW, JAMB assumes you are computer literate and will not baby-sit you because that is not their job. Rather, these challenges should have been addressed while you prepared for the examination. If care is not taken, this will still be an issue in the coming year as it was in last year.
It then begs the question, WHO is to blame and WHAT can be done? They are both valid questions. The ministries of education can perhaps enforce computer literacy in schools and ensure the availability of the computers and use. The students can go a step further by going to business centres or get help in tutorial centres. Parents and guardians can ensure their wards have all they need for the exams.
This is not to say the problem will be eradicated by the next exams but it will be considerably less than it is this year. As a matter of fact, we all can do better by constantly talking about the issue so it does not go the way of social media stories that only trend for a week or two.
Aluta Continua, Victoria Ascerta
