WINNING STUDENTS‘ FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY THROUGH AN EFFECTIVE USE OF THE DIAGNOSTIC NATURE OF CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT By: N. E. U. INYANG

ABSTRACT
By the introduction of continuous assesslnent into the education system in Nigeria it has been hoped that a system in which the leturing of a pupil is properly monitored with a view to remedying any anomalies would evolve. This would replace a previous systern which condemned over 50% of the Nation’s potential youths to failure. But as revealed through interviews, the practice of continuous assessrnent in the primary. secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria lacks the diagnostic function on which the realization of the above hope is placed. This paper reviews the negative practices of continuous assessment in the Nigerian educational institutions, compares these with practices which have yielded positive results both within and outside Nigeria and suggests ways for the effective use of continuous assessment to help win more students for science and technology in Nigeria.