By Felix Khanoba
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has warned parents, teachers, school proprietors, principals, invigilators and students against examination malpractice, saying the Federal Government is determined to restore credibility to Nigeria’s public examination system.
Alausa said the ongoing reforms were part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader efforts to raise educational standards, strengthen accountability and reposition the country’s education sector.
The minister gave the warning at a meeting with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) and other stakeholders in the education sector.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, Alausa said examination malpractice had become deeply entrenched and was creating an unfair advantage for candidates who gained access to examination materials illegally.
He said the practice not only compromises examination results but also places students who prepare diligently at a disadvantage while eroding public confidence in academic qualifications awarded in the country.
According to him, tackling the problem requires the cooperation of all stakeholders, stressing that students alone should not be blamed for examination malpractice.
He urged parents, teachers, school owners, principals and invigilators to comply with examination regulations, provide conducive learning environments and discourage any practice that gives candidates an unfair advantage.
Alausa said the Federal Government was strengthening examination administration to make public examinations more secure and ensure that results accurately reflect students’ knowledge and abilities.
He added that the measures were part of the wider reforms of the Tinubu administration aimed at improving standards, promoting accountability and rebuilding confidence in the nation’s assessment system.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, also appealed to private school proprietors and other education stakeholders to support the reforms.
She said tighter examination controls could initially reveal weaknesses in students’ actual preparation, particularly among candidates who may have become accustomed to accessing leaked questions before external examinations.
According to her, some students who record outstanding performances in internal examinations may struggle when sitting for external examinations because they had previously relied on leaked materials.
Prof. Ahmad said the introduction of serialised examination questions would make it more difficult for candidates to depend on leaked questions and encourage genuine preparation.
She urged schools to ensure that curricula were completed on schedule and promote regular study among students, assuring private school operators that the Ministry would continue to engage with them during the implementation of the reforms.
She said the ultimate objective was to ensure that examination results remained a reliable reflection of students’ knowledge and abilities.
Alausa, meanwhile, assured stakeholders that the Federal Government would continue to collaborate with private schools, examination bodies and other partners to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s examination system.
He said the administration was committed to protecting students who genuinely earn their grades and creating an education system where academic qualifications are based on knowledge, hard work and merit.
