WHEN round pegs are made to occupy round holes, things work well. As a result of this, the view of someone like Professor Olu Aina when it ones to education assessment could just be described as apt.

The professor, the pioneer Registrar of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), is a member of prominent world Education assessment bodies and one of the founding fathers of Association for Education Assessment in Africa (AEAA).

According to Aina, History, as a subject, is very important because it serves as a bridge that links important points from the past that can aid present develop drives with the present.

While talking on the decaying education system in Nigeria, the Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, Professor Clement Kolawole submitted that the only way out is for education to be put on a sound practical foundation. The view of the don, again underscored the importance of education assessment.

Talking about the history of AEAA, Olu Aina said “The history of AEAA started remotely at an international conference held in Princeton, New Jersey, USA April 19-21, 1974. Some 35 people, representing 18 countries met to consider the desirability and feasibility of establishing an organization to foster intercommunication among agencies throughout the world which are concerned with the application of assessment techniques for the improvement of educational process and to provide a framework within which such agencies could undertake cooperative projects.”

According to the professor, the move led to the establishment of International Association for Education Assessment (IAEA) to foster international cooperation in education research and assessment. Within one decade of its formation, several countries, especially from East Africa, had become members of IAEA. While saying that AEAA is a baby of IAEA, Olu Aina tried to look at some milestones when talking about AEAA. “1992 in Arusha, the association, which started as the sub-regional meeting of heads of institutions responsible for education assessment in East and Southern Africa, extended its membership to West Africa, thus necessitating a name change to Association of Education Assessment in Africa (AEAA).

“2002 in Dar es Salam, the AEAA made its first contact with ministers of Education in Africa. The then president of the association, Emmanuel Nkumbi, presented the AEAA resolutions and communique at the 20th conference held in Amusha to the honourable ministers, thus opening direct contact in matters of education and assessment with the powers that be on the continent,” he stated, among others.

Before concluding, the education assessment expert said “in the unfolding scenario, the AEAA will do well to increase its tempo of sharing, networking and collaboration, especially with fellow regional associations which are strategic to local needs and development. The question therefore, is not where the AEAA stands on the issue of assessment, but what do we know how to do best and how we translate it to meeting necessary reforms in education which remains ever so elusive.”

Conclusively, Aina submitted that “we must salute those visionary founders of the association, who prescribed the establishment of ties among agencies and institutions, who influence and service educational systems and process that nations may learn from each other, may help each other and may do so without diminution of their autonomy and culture.