The West African Examination Council is calling for stricter computer-based testing as a way to curb examination malpractice tied to so-called “miracle centres,” even as officials in Benue State say they have yet to confirm the existence of any such centres despite persistent allegations.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria, Timothy Manga, an official with WAEC’s Makurdi office, acknowledged that concerns about miracle centres in the state have grown worrisome, though he was careful to note that WAEC has not officially verified any specific school engaging in the practice. He framed the broader issue as a fundamental threat to educational integrity, arguing that schools should build reputations around genuine teaching quality rather than any perceived ability to help students cheat. “Any system that rewards students for cheating undermines those who have worked hard to prepare for examinations. We need an examination system where success is determined by knowledge, preparation, and competence, not by the ability to access assistance during examinations,” he said, adding that WAEC would continue monitoring the situation closely. “Though WAEC has not gotten any information on any school being a ‘miracle centre,’ we would continue to put our ears to the ground in case we hear of any that we can set an example with.”
Rebecca Ezekiel, a teacher at NKST Secondary School Makurdi, offered a structural solution to the problem, suggesting that establishing independent examination centres, separate from the schools where students actually receive instruction, could significantly reduce the influence individual schools and teachers have over exams like WAEC and NECO. She argued that computer-based testing would give examination bodies far greater control over venues, personnel, and security protocols. “Candidates should be examined under conditions that are independent of the schools where they receive instructions,” she said, further recommending the deployment of biometric verification, CCTV monitoring, and other technological safeguards to strengthen oversight during exams.
Not everyone views the situation through the same lens, however. Jude Odeh, a school proprietor in Otukpo Local Government Area, pushed back against the idea that simply admitting students into their final secondary year automatically makes a school suspect. While he acknowledged having heard the same allegations circulating about miracle centres in Benue, he said he had not personally identified any specific school operating as one. Instead, Odeh offered a more mundane explanation for why some students switch schools ahead of their final exams, pointing to financial pressure rather than any scheme to facilitate cheating. He noted that some schools charge examination registration fees arbitrarily, and when combined with regular school fees, the total cost can become unaffordable for many parents, prompting transfers that might otherwise look suspicious. Odeh added that he was aware of certain schools in Benue that deliberately avoid admitting new students directly into SS3, registering only those who had been properly promoted from SS2, a practice he suggested reflects genuine academic standards rather than any effort to game the system.
