By Ngozi Nwankwo
In a bold move to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s examination system, the
Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education has announced that a committee had been established to address key issues, including exam leakages, identity theft, fraud, and improving supervision.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, who disclosed this at a high-level meeting with the Registrars of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, National Examination Council, NECO, the Head of the National Office for the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, and the Director of Senior Secondary Education, said the
committee will be formally inaugurated in January 2025.
The meeting, held recently focused on devising strategies to improve the quality of examinations across the Country.
Alausa emphasised the government’s unwavering stance on zero tolerance for examination malpractice, asserting the need to protect the sanctity of all examinations.
He also emphasised the government’s commitment to upholding the integrity of high-stakes and achievement exams conducted by NECO and WAEC, as well as placement exams administered by JAMB.
One of the key decisions was the transition of all examinations (achievement and placement) into a Computer-Based Testing (CBT) platform within the next three years, ensuring a more secure and efficient examination process.
“This is a significant step towards building a robust and credible examination system for Nigeria. We are moving swiftly to protect the future of our education system and ensure that our students’ achievements are recognized fairly and accurately,” Dr. Alausa remarked.
Speaking on the issue of examination malpractice, Honourable Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, expressed deep concern over the prevalence of such unethical practices in Nigeria’s educational system.
She highlighted alarming practices such as students pooling funds to access leaked answers via WhatsApp and schools bribing officials to enable cheating. Dr. Ahmad emphasized that these acts undermine the credibility of assessments and compromise the moral and academic development of students.
She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to enforcing strict measures to combat malpractice, ensure accountability, and uphold the integrity of the nation’s examination system. She called on all stakeholders to work together in restoring fairness and transparency.
With these measures in place, Nigeria is poised to strengthen the credibility of its educational system and set a new standard for examination security.