NewStats: 3,263,601 , 8,180,708 topics. Date: Friday, 06 June 2025 at 06:28 PM 49634c

The current examination system is not effective anymore, I think we truly need a paradigm shift and o.ps suggestions are quite useful

These are the type of discussions we should be having on Nairaland.

Thank you op for this .

And yeah ,your idea is brilliant,
If this can just be implemented, there will be considerably change.

Kikiki... In nairaland guys words, "Naija education na your mate."

BluntCrazeMan:
I hope I am making sense here.
I hope this small contributions of mine can be seen, and be considered..
..
It pains me so badly that we have lots of graduates that have absolutely nothing good to offer.

If you're on Twitter, or Facebook, post it and tag the ministry of Education.

I was talking to some final year secondary school learners the other day; we were generally talking about their experience so far and I put it out there that it is unfortunate that many of them are being made robots instead of actually learning as they so desire in their individual way.

The learning is fun is missing in Nigeria's UTTERLY streamlined way of learning. For example, what are the odds of having a potential ornithologist in a graduating class? Lol

I agree with your method. It challenges the status quo and focuses on learner strengths.

Moh247:
The current examination system is not effective anymore, I think we truly need a paradigm shift and o.ps suggestions are quite useful

look at this illiterate urchin, what do you know.

It's been long I came across a topic/content that is as interesting as this. Thoughtful, really is!

BluntCrazeMan:
I will go straight to the point.
..
..

1. At earliest stages (Nursery, and Early Basic Stages), pupils should be tested with examinations that ascertain their motor skills, and every other basic skills and basic abilities..

2. At mid stages (Basic Classes, and Junior Collage Classes), The students should be tested with examinations that dwell more on ascertaining the strength of their retentive memories.

(2b. Then, at Senior Collage, the students should be gradually introduced to “knowledge-based examinations”, which test the residual and acquired knowledge of the students on the subject, and not necessarily what the students . Thus, the exams should be in forms that allow and encourage the students to give their answers in their very own words, and not necessarily the way it was presented inside the textbooks.. In fact, anybody who presents an answer similar to what was contained inside the textbooks shouldn't have any score.)

3. At later stages (Higher Institutions), the students should be tested with examinations that ascertain the “Applied Knowledge” of the students (Starting from their First Year in the Institutions). This type of examination is known as “Application-based Examination”, and it tests the “Problem-Solving Skills” of the students.
At this stage, examinations should be more of “solving” real-life situations, and the students are even allowed to use textbooks if they wish - because the answers are not even inside the textbooks to start with - the answers to such examinations are in the internal ability of the students to apply their knowledge.
For Instance, an examination that contains a “problem” that was well described, and the students were required to provide a solution to the problem based on their knowledge of the subject in question - is an “Application-based Examination”.
Thus, no two answers are supposed to be the same.




..
..
***WITH ALL THESE SAID...
Nobody can leave the Higher Institutions of learning, and still be feeling like he has absolutely nothing inside him.


It pains me deeply whenever I see University Examination Papers with Objective Questions, and such examinations would be expecting the so-called University Students to fill in the gaps or blank-spaces with the required missing words or phrases or sentences..
Meaning that, they are still testing the retentive memories of such students of higher institutions??

It even pains more when one sees a so-called “graduate” of a higher institution of learning, who doesn't even know the practicability of the course he read and graduated from.

Some people will abuse you for not adding Arabic language and Islamic studies at the early stage.

Thattallgirl:
Hi! I don't agree with testing pre-primary pupils or grading them. At that stage, what they need is to be exposed to several knowledge and skills for their age but not to be graded or tested. Yea they can have classwork but not to be graded.

I agree a little on senior secondary education but I'd add primary and junior secondary school too. There are some subjects that require the students to give answers based on what was taught or in the textbook...like mathematics or languages or other subjects but I get your point. Your point is that for some subjects probably like government or history or some other ones that have to do with definitions or stories or discussions, students should be able to give answers in their own words (of course it has to be also correct) and not the exact words written in the textbook.

For higher institutions, I completely agree. I was also given "German questions" in the university to fill in the gaps and to write exactly what was written in our books or when the lecturers dictated. And yea, imagine lecturers dictating notes or writing on the board in the university lol. I don't even like teachers dictating notes in secondary school or writing on the board as I see it as a waste of teaching time, not to talk of university. Problem solving questions? Yea I agree and I believe practical is almost dead in our education system both in primary and secondary school as well as university. All we know is theory and "la cram la pour".

Examination is supposed to be a practical-based and not cram and pour because I can last week; I wrote the last diet of ICAN examination and I went more of practical than relying on what is in the book.

I so much stan these submissions OP!!!
I wish I can make a voicenote rn
These are what I've been shouting about in my department since 2019.
Like someone said up there, the only courses that I find enjoyable and ed well are the practice-able courses, the rest are a disaster.
I'm not sure of a positive reception if you show the so-called professors of educations these out of the box submissions because I've realized that they are not open to new ideas, COVID virtual classes exposed them.


I'm wiling to volunteer in promoting this idea(if there are plans for that)

[quote author=BluntCrazeMan post=118637289]I will go straight to the point.
..
..

1. At earliest stages (Nursery, and Early Basic Stages), pupils should be tested with examinations that ascertain their motor skills, and every other basic skills and basic abilities..

2. At mid stages (Basic Classes, and Junior Collage Classes), [b]The students should be tested with examinations that dwell more on ascertaining the strength of their retentive memories.

[i](2b. Then, at Senior Collage, the students should be gradually introduced to “knowledge-based examinations”, which test the residual and acquired knowledge of the students on the subject, and not necessarily what the students . Thus, the exams should be in forms that allow and encourage the students to give their answers in their very own words, and not necessarily the way it was presented inside the textbooks.. In fact, anybody who presents an answer buhari didnt go sch.even he didnt understand wot u wrote here.NO WAEC RESULT.Hausa!

LordIsaac:

I know universities that set applied questions. Stop generalising.

universities is dead in nigeriA both private nd public ones let stop deceivibg ourselves.hw can a agric dept in university dnt have demonstration farm on plantations tomato, yam etc nd livestock farm nd have farming kits like mobile raise bed for each to agric students to use to learn hw to cultivate to harvest

Two answers can be same even for real-life based questions you don't have the monopoly of ideas

Illeterate northerner cant stimulate wot u wrote here. And were under they re empire.they rule us. Plz guys? We need someone like late awolowo, yoruba graduate. Not northern graduate. Tinuthief wil b worst dan bubu

Good submission Op. We hope the ministry of education would take cognizance.

Recently, there have been claims and counterclaims of the suitability or otherwise of presidential candidates of the different political parties in Nigeria.
Exhibited, perceived and sometimes concocted inadequacies and alleged inadequacies have been the hinges of personality attacks, especially in the social media space.
Critically examine the implications of the aforementioned cases on the buildup, conduct and consequence of the 2023 presidential election, identify its possible impact on the overall democratic system and suggest solutions that could be applied to reestablish democratic fluidity in Nigeria.

Sample question for political science students.

All rights reserved.
No part of this question may be reproduced, transmitted, copied or used in any way without the prior permission of the author.

BluntCrazeMan:
I will go straight to the point.
..
..

1. At earliest stages (Nursery, and Early Basic Stages), pupils should be tested with examinations that ascertain their motor skills, and every other basic skills and basic abilities..

2. At mid stages (Basic Classes, and Junior Collage Classes), The students should be tested with examinations that dwell more on ascertaining the strength of their retentive memories.

(2b. Then, at Senior Collage, the students should be gradually introduced to “knowledge-based examinations”, which test the residual and acquired knowledge of the students on the subject, and not necessarily what the students . Thus, the exams should be in forms that allow and encourage the students to give their answers in their very own words, and not necessarily the way it was presented inside the textbooks.. In fact, anybody who presents an answer similar to what was contained inside the textbooks shouldn't have any score.)

3. At later stages (Higher Institutions), the students should be tested with examinations that ascertain the “Applied Knowledge” of the students (Starting from their First Year in the Institutions). This type of examination is known as “Application-based Examination”, and it tests the “Problem-Solving Skills” of the students.
At this stage, examinations should be more of “solving” real-life situations, and the students are even allowed to use textbooks if they wish - because the answers are not even inside the textbooks to start with - the answers to such examinations are in the internal ability of the students to apply their knowledge.
For Instance, an examination that contains a “problem” that was well described, and the students were required to provide a solution to the problem based on their knowledge of the subject in question - is an “Application-based Examination”.
Thus, no two answers are supposed to be the same.




..
..
***WITH ALL THESE SAID...
Nobody can leave the Higher Institutions of learning, and still be feeling like he has absolutely nothing inside him.


It pains me deeply whenever I see University Examination Papers with Objective Questions, and such examinations would be expecting the so-called University Students to fill in the gaps or blank-spaces with the required missing words or phrases or sentences..
Meaning that, they are still testing the retentive memories of such students of higher institutions??

It even pains more when one sees a so-called “graduate” of a higher institution of learning, who doesn't even know the practicability of the course he read and graduated from.

I agree with you �.

1. Test the motor skills, and other basics. Ability to read, identify, build a bit of words in the vocabulary.

2. Introduction to broad definitions of a variety fields of Learning. Test their knowledge retention and their ability to present what they have learned in their own words and not verbatim reproduction of what Textbooks Authors says.

3. A graduation from the basic and general definition should be introduced. Also, students should now be able to present what is learned in their own words. You can express definitions in your own words rather than the iron cast views of Newton and co so long they have the same meaning.

4. In the University, it should be strictly Applied Knowledge.

BluntCrazeMan:
I hope I am making sense here.
I hope this small contributions of mine can be seen, and be considered..
..
It pains me so badly that we have lots of graduates that have absolutely nothing good to offer.

First lecturers and teachers should do their job well. Do u think what they do in most schools are teaching?. Some lecturers don't even know what they are teaching how can a prof of mathematics tells me 4x+x²= 5x²

edward1106:


If you're on Twitter, or Facebook, post it and tag the ministry of Education.

Thanks so much for your suggestions

BluntCrazeMan:
I hope I am making sense here.
I hope this small contributions of mine can be seen, and be considered..
..
It pains me so badly that we have lots of graduates that have absolutely nothing good to offer.

There Is A Lot Of Sense In It

Delicious22:
look at this illiterate urchin, what do you know.

This thread is not a Political thread bikooo..


Asides Politics,, our dear Nigeria is still out there waiting for all of us

Czartrips:


First lecturers and teachers should do their job well. Do u think what they do in most schools are teaching?. Some lecturers don't even know what they are teaching how can a prof of mathematics tells me 4x+x²= 5x²

If a mathematics student is asked to explain the bolded expression to a kid, can he do that??

But that's what knowledge is supposed to be.

To explain what you know about a particular topic to someone who has no iota of idea about the subject nor the topic , and yet the person fully understood what you explained.

It sha depends on the course of study. I read biology, and to be honest, i can't come and say i can't apply what i learnt.

sammirano:
Two answers can be same even for real-life based questions you don't have the monopoly of ideas

This one totally missed the point.


See you later on another thread

Hadassahly:


You are correct. They have to be considered and the matter is actually connected with other factors.

The current crop of exam markers are largely teachers, people who are already burdened with so much task from their primary places of work, but, who, need extra cash, because they aren't getting paid enough.
In my opinion, for OP's submissions to work, teachers, both in the public or private schools have to be paid and rewarded better than what they currently get. In addition, there has to be massive and transparent recruitment of graduates, for the sole purpose of examination marking. Say, graduates of agricultural science in a state, employed to mark only agricultural science, Animal husbandry etc.

I think that will make things easier.

In addition, there has to be massive and transparent recruitment of graduates, for the sole purpose of examination marking. Say, graduates of agricultural science in a state, employed to mark only agricultural science, Animal husbandry etc.

Do u think the fresh graduates will have the requisite knowledge to mark WAEC and NECO?Where do you want the old examiners/teachers to keep or gain the classroom experience? Do u know the cost of training these examiners?


We should be more concerned about the restricted curriculum.

But what applied question did you expect a lecturer that was brought up with the same system That's aw dey are also taught and datz wot they are giving out...there should be a complete overhaul of the system because you are very right... education in Nigeria is just a waste of time and money, imagine I will finish exam now and will hardly what I read the next day...don't blame the lecturers,they are also brought up by the system

BluntCrazeMan:
Who generalised??
Just point out the places where I generalised..

I dropped an opinion on Nairaland based on the things I am seeing., And you on your side, you couldn't relate properly with the opinion, instead of you to skip, you still jumped into the thread and be saying things that are not adding up.



With all due respect,,
I humbly suggest you quit this thread..
I am not here to argue with you.

As for the payment to lecturers which you mentioned, even if their current pay is tripled, the ones that usually set those poorly-constructed exams would Never change their pattern of setting exams.

There is need for a foundational change as well as a systemic change which should compulsorily cut across the whole educational system in Nigeria


You can continue to stay there and be saying “Some students did this, some lecturers did that, some Universities did this-and-that”

LordIsaac:
Pay Nigerian lecturers well and they will churn out "productive graduates." Simple!

Story for the gods.

Lecturers in Nigeria won't have reason to collect rice and prices for catching exam malpractice if that is introduced and it pain the werey lecturers because deep down I want this kind of exam

Unfortunately this will never see the light of day except you're friends with the minister of education or something. Nigeria is a backwards country, and anything progressive is a taboo. What will lecturers do now that student aren't subject to cramming and pouring their handouts and textbooks

onuman:



Some people will abuse you for not adding Arabic language and Islamic studies at the early stage.

Na Nigeria wey dey.

We so much love frivolities over here

BluntCrazeMan:
I hope I am making sense here.
I hope this small contributions of mine can be seen, and be considered..
..
It pains me so badly that we have lots of graduates that have absolutely nothing good to offer.

you made very good sense unfortunately, what they designed in our curriculum right from the starting point include the useless BK- bible knowledge and IRK- Islam religious knowledge that are not important to nation building.

I think you should read this and realize that you are not even half-way to thinking how badly or better our system can be.

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/09/10-reasons-why-finlands-education-system-is-the-best-in-the-world

before then someone or somewhere i had heard of how in the Finnish university system, you dont really study courses. You are an engineer, they give you a problem to solve. You use your four years learning/reading/understanding/practicing things that would give you total understanding/solution to that problem. It reminds me where people say, more than half of the things we learn in the university, we dont use them... (in their school system - you wish, also as a computer scientist, you wish more)... Or maybe this is hearsay, but their system far outclasses UK/US ed systems. They are the brothers to Norway who turned their below sea-level living area to a place where they can use the flood for swimming pool when it comes (joking but they solved flooding in an extra-ordinary way). Cheers.