Deter Exam Malpractice, Punish Offenders – Education Minister Advocates

The Evangelist
December 6, 2022

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Education, Mr Goodluck Opiah, has called on the government to put in place policy to deter examination malpractice and punish offenders.

Opiah stated this Monday when he declared open a one-day sensitisation workshop on the theme, “Role of Education Stakeholders in Tackling Examination Malpractice in Nigeria” in Uyo.

He further called for collaborative efforts of stakeholders in tackling examination malpractice in the country.

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According to him, the sensitisation programme would help portray the ills of examination malpractice and create awareness on the need to fight against all forms of malpractice.

“All stakeholders such as teachers, parents even students must show a high level of commitment and honesty.

“Parent should also periodically check the activities of their children and wards, ensure proper moral training and support punishment for offenders. The government must also put in place policy to deter such acts and punish offenders.

“Therefore all hands must be on deck to ensure total eradication of examination malpractice at all levels of education in Nigeria,” Opiah said.

He added that the efforts required the total re-orientation in order to engender attitudinal change in the minds of the youths, community leaders, parents and teachers as well as those in the position of authority.

Earlier, the Registrar of National Examinations Council (NECO) Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, had said the workshop was meant to proffer strategies that could be adopted to curb the menace of examination malpractice in the country.

Wushishi explained that the workshop is also geared towards re-orientation of the minds of the youths concerning the cankerworm of examination malpractice as no nation develops when it’s youths indulge in sharp practices.

“No doubt, examination malpractice has the tendency to discourage hard work among serious students, lowers education standard, discredit certificates, and lead to the production of quacks, thereby affecting the manpower needs of the nation.

“We must therefore take collective responsibility to rid them of this bad habit of wanting to cut corners,” Wushishi said.

In his remarks, Gov Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom said the menace of examination malpractice is being fuelled by the social media.

Emmanuel, who was represented by Commissioner for Education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet, blamed parents and school authorities for supporting and aiding examination malpractice among their wards and students.

The Governor added that his administration has maintained zero tolerance for examination malpractice with adequate measures put in place to tackle the menace.

He said his administration has increased the construction of laboratories and constructed perimetre fencing, deployed security guards and retrained teachers to improve the quality of teaching and learning and reduce examination malpractice in the state.