The Federal Government has warned that parents, teachers, school proprietors, principals, invigilators and students involved in examination malpractice will face consequences as authorities intensify efforts to restore credibility to Nigeria’s public examination system.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, issued the warning on Thursday in Abuja during a meeting with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools and other stakeholders in the education sector. (Vanguard News)
Alausa said examination malpractice had become deeply entrenched in the education system, creating an unfair environment for students who prepare genuinely for their examinations.
According to him, the problem goes beyond individual candidates because it also threatens public confidence in certificates and qualifications awarded by Nigerian institutions.
The minister stressed that students should not bear sole responsibility for examination malpractice, arguing that adults who facilitate, encourage or ignore cheating also contribute to the weakening of the examination system.
He said the Federal Government was therefore strengthening examination administration and introducing measures aimed at making public examinations more secure.
Alausa said the objective was to ensure that examination results reflected candidates’ actual knowledge and abilities rather than their access to leaked materials or other forms of illicit assistance.
The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, urged private school proprietors to support the reforms.
She warned that tighter examination controls could initially reveal weaknesses in the preparation of some students who had become accustomed to obtaining leaked examination questions.
Ahmad disclosed that the government was introducing serialised examination questions as part of measures to make it more difficult for candidates to benefit from leaked materials.
She also urged schools to ensure that students were adequately prepared by completing the curriculum on schedule and encouraging regular study.
The Federal Government’s position comes amid growing concerns over the credibility of public examinations and the impact of malpractice on students who prepare honestly.
Alausa maintained that tackling the problem required cooperation among parents, schools, teachers, examination officials and students.
He said the government would continue working with private schools, examination bodies and other stakeholders to strengthen the assessment system and protect the value of Nigerian qualifications.
The minister said academic success must ultimately be based on knowledge, preparation and merit rather than access to examination materials through fraudulent means.
