Jane Salihu
The Federal Government has warned that examination malpractice is not only compromising the credibility of Nigeria’s public examinations but also placing students who prepare honestly at an unfair disadvantage.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, raised the concern during a meeting with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) and other education stakeholders, where he called on parents, teachers, school proprietors, principals, invigilators and students to take collective responsibility for restoring integrity to the examination system.
Alausa said examination malpractice had become deeply entrenched in the education sector, distorting results and weakening public confidence in qualifications awarded by Nigerian institutions. He stressed that the Federal Government was therefore strengthening examination administration to ensure that examination results reflect genuine learning, preparation and merit.
According to him, the measures are part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader education reforms aimed at restoring standards, strengthening accountability and repositioning the nation’s education system. He warned that stakeholders who facilitate candidates’ access to examination materials would undermine the future of students and the credibility of the entire education system.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, explained that stronger examination controls could initially expose gaps in students’ actual preparation, particularly where some candidates had become accustomed to accessing leaked questions before external examinations.
She said the introduction of serialised examination questions would make it more difficult for candidates to rely on leaked materials, stressing that schools must ensure timely completion of the curriculum and encourage students to prepare consistently for examinations.
Ahmad urged private school proprietors and other stakeholders to support the reforms, assuring them that the Ministry would continue to engage with and support schools during implementation. She said the objective was to ensure that examination results become a credible reflection of what students know and can do.
Alausa assured stakeholders that the Federal Government would continue working with private schools, examination bodies and other partners to protect genuine learners and rebuild confidence in Nigeria’s assessment system, stressing that academic qualifications must ultimately be earned through knowledge, hard work and merit.
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