By Adeola Kunle
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, has cautioned parents, teachers, school proprietors, principals, invigilators and students against engaging in examination malpractice, reaffirming the Federal Government’s determination to restore integrity and credibility to Nigeria’s public examination system.
Speaking during a meeting with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, NAPPS, and other education stakeholders, Alausa said the measures being introduced to safeguard examinations reflect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s resolve to raise standards and reposition the nation’s education sector.
According to the Minister, examination malpractice has become a major challenge within the education system, creating an uneven playing field for candidates who diligently prepare for their examinations. He said the practice compromises the authenticity of examination results, penalises hardworking students and weakens public confidence in certificates issued through the country’s education system.
Alausa stressed that the responsibility for eliminating the menace must be shared by all stakeholders, noting that students alone cannot be blamed for the problem. He called on parents, teachers, proprietors, principals, invigilators and other stakeholders to respect examination regulations, create an enabling learning environment and reject every practice that gives candidates unfair access to examination materials.
He explained that the Federal Government is taking steps to reinforce the administration and security of public examinations so that candidates’ results will truly reflect their knowledge, preparation and merit.
The Minister said the initiative is part of the broader education reforms being pursued by the Tinubu administration to improve educational standards, promote accountability and restore public trust in Nigeria’s assessment and certification processes.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, appealed to private school proprietors and other stakeholders to cooperate fully with the ongoing reforms.
She observed that stricter examination procedures might initially reveal weaknesses in the level of preparation of some students. According to her, certain candidates who perform remarkably well in internal school examinations may have relied on prior access to leaked questions before external examinations, making it difficult for them to perform at the same level when such opportunities are eliminated.
Prof. Ahmad said the planned introduction of serialised examination questions would significantly reduce the usefulness of leaked materials and further emphasise the importance of genuine preparation by candidates.
She urged schools to ensure that their curricula are completed within the stipulated timeframe and encourage students to maintain consistent study habits. The Minister of State also assured private education stakeholders that the Ministry of Education would sustain engagement and provide necessary support throughout the implementation of the reforms.
She said the central objective of the reforms is to ensure that examination outcomes serve as a true and credible reflection of students’ knowledge, competence and abilities.
Alausa further assured stakeholders that the Federal Government would continue to collaborate with private schools, examination bodies and other relevant partners to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s examination system.
He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to protecting genuine learners and building an education system where academic qualifications are earned through knowledge, diligence, hard work and merit.
Adeola Kunle
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