An official of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Timothy Manga, has advocated for the full adoption of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) as the most effective mechanism to eliminate examination malpractice and dismantle syndicate examination venues, widely known as “miracle centres”.
Speaking in Makurdi, Benue State, Manga underscored that transitioning from paper-based tests to strict CBT models restores credibility to public examinations by removing the human vulnerabilities exploited during traditional testing.
Core Key Points
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Undermining Meritocracy: Magna emphasized that any assessment framework rewarding cheating penalizes diligent students and devalues academic credentials nationwide. Schools must be evaluated on the standard of their instruction rather than their ability to facilitate illicit assistance.
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Addressing “Miracle Centres”: Miracle centres—venues where organized, institutionalized cheating is facilitated for inflated fees—pose a systemic threat to educational integrity. While WAEC maintains vigilance and investigates suspected venues, implementing independent CBT infrastructure strips control away from compromised school authorities.
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Independent Examination Environments: Educators supporting the stance, such as Rebecca Ezekiel of NKST Secondary School Makurdi, noted that independent CBT centres allow examination bodies direct oversight over venue security, invigilation, and personnel.
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Complementary Technological Measures: To ensure complete examination security, stakeholders recommend pairing CBT with:
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Biometric Verification to curb impersonation and proxy test-takers.
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Paper Serialisation & Randomised Questions so neighboring candidates receive distinct question sequences.
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Surveillance Technology (CCTV) across test centers to monitor real-time hall activities.
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Why CBT Targets Miracle Centres
| Threat Vector in Paper Exams | CBT & Technological Solution |
| Pre-knowledge / Question Leaks | Encryption and real-time digital paper delivery minutes before start time. |
| Invigulator Collusion & Bribes | Automated digital scoring and randomized question shuffling. |
| Impersonation / Proxy Writing | Mandatory biometric verification prior to computer login. |
| Local Facility Control | Migration to monitored, independent CBT centers outside school jurisdiction. |
