THE NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL OF TANZANIA

NECTA Information

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DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH EVALUATION AND DATA PROCESSING

Departmental sections, duties and functions are as follows:

DATA ENTRIES AND OPERATIONS SECTION

• Computer Operations Unit
  
  • Starting the machine and ensuring that all peripherals are in good working condition.
  
  
  • Attend to normal user-requests, e.g. printing:
    
    • Results Slips
    • Certificates
    • Examination Results and Statistics
    • Various print out documents & other reports, etc.
    
    
  • Monitor the use of Stationery and other consumables, e.g. ribbons, disks, strimmer tapes, etc.
  
  
  • Maintain a log of machines' failures
  
  
  • Do regular back-ups of system files
  
  
  • Report any peripheral / system malfunctioning.
  
  



• Data Control and Entries Unit
  
  • Maintain log of incoming and outgoing operational user-requests
  
  
  • Scheduling operational priorities
  
  
  • Ensure availability of appropriate computer stationery and supplies
  
  
  • Maintenance of Examination centers' (Schools/Centres) Data base
  
  
  • Entering / scanning candidates' registration data
  
  
  • Entering / scanning candidates' Continuous Assessment (CA) marks
  
  
  • Entering / scanning candidates' Final Examination (FE) marks
  
  
  • Ensure the scanners are operational and report machine failure
  
  
  • Maintain a log of machines' failures
  
  
  • Maintain a log of scanned / captured data

SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT AND NETWORK SUPPORT SECTION

• Programming and Systems Analysis Unit:
  • Analysis of User-requests
  
  
  • Draw up specifications to meet User-requirements
  
  
  • Design and write programmes to meet User-requirement specifications
  
  
  • Test programmes
  
  
  • Document the system
  
  
  • Provide user and operational manuals
  
  
  • Carry out system reviews for further development
  
  
  • Draw up and maintain programming standards.
  
  
  • Keep close liaison with End-users.
  
  
  • Maintain the existing systems.
  
  
  • Advise end-users on applicability of application packages.

• Network Support Unit:
  • Ensure that the Network is operational at all times
  
  
  • Maintain Systems Security through the use of Passwords and Access rights
  
  
  • Ensure availability of space on the file Server
  
  
  • Ensure regular backups of file Server
  
  
  • Draw up maintenance schedules
  
  
  • Maintain Network directory

RESEARCH AND STATISTICS SECTION

• Research Unit:
  • Conduct researches into all types of examinations conducted by NECTA with a view to the improvement of their quality, relevance, appropriateness and practicability.
  
  
  • Initiate and carry out researches aimed at seeking means of improving assessment techniques.
  
  
  • Initiate enquiries / researches to explore new avenues in the universe of examinations.
  
  
  • Liaise with Educational Research, Testing and evaluation institutions within and outside the country.
  
  
  • Carry out Action researches into examinations and other related areas.
  
  
  • Validate various instruments and methods of assessment employed by NECTA.

• Statistics and Publications Unit:
  • To carry out examinations data analyses and interpretations of processed examinations data, in order to identify important determinants of examinations performance.
  
  
  • Initiate and carry out Post-facto analyses on subjects examined
  
  
  • Item or question analysis;
  • Inter-correctional analysis;
  • Comparative analyses of candidates' performance in specified grouping.
  
  
  • Publication and dissemination of research information and findings related to the activities of the department and the Council (NECTA)
  
  
  • Provide feedback to examination consumers within and outside the Council.
  
  
  • Conduct Seminars, Workshops, Conferences, Symposia, etc.
  
  
  • Prepare and publish periodic Newsletters and Bulletins on NECTA ' s activities.
  
  
  • Establish and maintain NECTA ' s Documentation Centre.
  
  
  • Prepare and publish Handbooks on Assessment and Examinations

MONITORING AND EVALUATION SECTION

• Evaluate methods of assessment employed by NECTA
.

• Initiate and carry out monitoring and evaluation studies aimed at seeking means of improving assessment techniques.


• Prepare, Review and update Monitable indicators on examinations performance, certification, league tables, etc.


• Provide the necessary feedback to examination consumers.


• Monitor and document Comparative Studies, Viz.:
  
  • Comparability in Standards;
  • Establishment of test equivalencies;
  • Inter-marker reliability studies.


• Promote Predictive Validation Studies:
  
  • Follow up studies on students' performance;
  
  
  • Predictive validity studies across the levels of the school system.