By Magnus Emuji / Rukevwe Adugbo
Delta State Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs. Rose Ezewu has said that generation of test item for the conduct of promotion examination is aimed at fostering uniformity of standards and credibility of examination across public schools in the state.
Mrs. Ezewu stated this in Asaba while declaring open a one- day workshop on Generation of Test Items for Promotion Examination in public secondary schools in the state for examiners.
The Secondary Education commissioner, who reiterated that the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education was committed to ensuring the full realisation of the mandate in maintaining educational standards in tandem with global best practices and sustain the integrity of all public examinations conducted.
Mrs. Ezewu advised the selected examiners and teachers in their various subject areas to put in their best towards ensuring the actualisation of the objectives of the workshop.
She added that the focus of the workshop was to create a unique platform for teachers with cognate experience in their areas of specialisation to review previous instruments and generate enriched test items in tandem with approved curriculum.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director of Examination and Standard, Mr. Sunday Egomaguna commended the commissioner, Mrs. Rose Ezewu and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Augustine Oghoro for their consistent support to the Examination Department and for making out time to attend the workshop.
Mr. Egomaguna, who enjoined participants in the workshop to be serious with the workshop, described generation of test items as critical exercise that needed to be accorded the required attention.
Resource persons including Prof. John Odili from Delta State University, Abraka and Dr. Godwin Edozien of the Federal College of Education (Technical) , Asaba presented lectures on Guidelines on Generation of Test Items and New Subject Thematic Areas respectively.
Speaking further in his lecture presentation, Prof. Odili stressed the need for examiners to avoid use of some unique examples associated with their environment, noting that ambiguous instructions should also be avoided.
Stakeholders present were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Augustine Oghoro, Director of Education Resource Centre, Pastor (Mrs.) Joy Godson Biyibi, Director of Quality Assistance and Inspectorate, Comr. Enerst Ossai, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) , Comrade Titus Okotie , the President of ANCOPSS, Mrs. Winifred Emeni represented by ANCOPSS President for Oshimili South Local Government Area, Dr.(Mrs) Obiajulu C. Eboka and some Chief Inspectors of Education (CIEs) among other Directors.