From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has acquired a high performance Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) Scanner worth N500 million, to enhance the efficiency, credibility and security of its examinations.
The Council said the acquisition was a testament to its commitment to leveraging technology in all its examination processes.
NECO spokesman, Sani Azeez, in a statement, on Thursday, indicated that NECO Registrar Prof. Dantani Ibrahim wushishi launched the newly Installed Scanning machine at the ICT Department in Minna.
He said it was part of the Council’s efforts to improve accuracy, speed and reliability in its examination process, disclosing that the scantron Insight 1500c is a high performance OMR Scanner known for its precision, speed and ability to handle large volume of scripts efficiently.
He explained that with the new addition, NECO will significantly enhance data processing capabilities, ensuring faster and more accurate results processing for millions of candidates across the world.
He said the newly acquired scanner has the capability to scan over 15,000 OMR sheets per hour and 250 per minute, adding that the scanning machine has the capacity to simultaneously scan and score OMR sheets.
Director ICT Department, Mr. Goddy Usioboh, said the acquisition of the new scanner aligns with NECO’s vision of delivering world class examination services while maintaining the integrity of its assessment.
The Technical Adviser from Scantron Company, Minessota, USA, Mr. Tom Harry, who trained the staff of the ICT Department on the operations of the new scanning machine, expressed satisfaction with the staff high level of dedication and diligence during the training.