Examination malpractice is today one of the major rots in Nigeria’s education system. BusinessDay investigations show that while several reasons have been given for the rise of this menace, centres which disguise as tutorial centres are in fact centres for massive examination malpractices.
More worrisome is the proliferation of these centers, called ‘miracle centres’. Most streets across Nigeria are today littered with their banners and posters luring students with inscriptions assuring them of credits, while concerned authorities remain numb.
Students in their desperation to make the minimum requirements of five credits to gain admission into higher institutions patronise these centres and are made to pay additional fees to aid the cheating process.
During a recent visit to one of the special centres in Abuja, it was discovered that no tutorials hold, once payments are made, the students only return when Examination commences.
BusinessDay investigations also revealed that many private schools in Abuja are not left out in the business.
Students from public schools often flood private school during Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, they are also made to pay extra examination fees which used to pay Examination supervisors to aid in the cheating process.
The methods employed by these ‘miracle centres’ to facilitate the malpractice process includes; bribing exam invigilators to allow the students in the examination hall cheat, getting examination question papers before examination, replacing the answer script written in the examination hall, impersonation, helping the students with answers during examinations amongst others.
BusinessDay reporter who disguised as a student had visited one of the multiple banners along Dutse-Bwari route, where an operator, who simply identified himself as ‘Onward’ said he runs a centre for General Certificate Examination (GCE) and assured the reporter of nine credits in the desired subjects for a fee of N18, 000 only in the Nov/Dec. National Examination Council (NECO) Examinations.
According to him, “All you need to do is pay N18,000 into my account, I will do the registration for you, if you are busy, you don’t have to come for any tutorial, so on the examination day, we know how to go about it.”
A visit to another centers within the same vicinity indicate that the situation is not different as they struggle to out-do each other.
Here, the operators assured our reporter of no less than seven credits in the National Business and Technical Examinations (NABTEB) which will commence November 2019, “once you pay the necessary fees”
“Register with me and your seven credits is guaranteed. I run an accredited examination centre. The examination your papers will be taken care of, especially the paper you need the most. Just come to my office with N15, 000.”
The principal of a government secondary school in Keffi, Nasarawa State who simply identified himself as ‘Prince ‘ said he usually charges N20,000 extra for students who want to pass special subjects , especially mathematics and English language.
Investigations showed however, that on the examination day, the external supervisors are ‘sorted out’ with some money and the students are allowed to cheat, either the answers are written on the board or they are allowed to use their textbooks and notebooks.
Also, a visit to most private secondary schools in Bwari area council Abuja revealed that students also pay extra fee ranging from N15, 000 to N 30,000 for NECO, WAEC and NABTEB examinations.
It was discovered that some of the officials in these examination bodies aid and abet the cheating process.
An official of one of the examination bodies, names withheld told our reporter he will arrange for her to pass the exam at a designated center.
“Don’t worry, I will put you in a centre where you will make your papers, they will get you there”, an official at the NABTEB office in Utako Abuja told our reporter.
Ben Boong the spokesperson of the federal ministry of Education in his reaction however denied knowledge of the existence of such centers.
According to him, exam malpractice is on the decline because various examination bodies to include WAEC, NECO, JAMB and NABTEB have taken stringent steps to tackle the menace.
“It is impossible for these centres to see the questions papers before the exams because WAEC, NECO only sets exam questions a night to the exams or on the day of the examination.
Also the question paper types introduced by JAMB and biometrics verification by other exam bodies have reduced malpractice and cases of impersonation”, he said.
He added, “WAEC and NECO have already accredited examination centres, these so called special centres are not accredited, therefore they cannot conduct examinations or control examination processes.”
However, these centres have become a business that is increasing steadily. A ‘beneficiary’ from these centres Hasaanat Bello who spoke to BusinessDay said she registered in a private school with an extra fee of N12, 000. She said they were given answers during the examinations and she made all her papers.
While stakeholders in the education sector continue to decry decay in the system and low quality of Nigerian degrees, this trend is gaining momentum and goes on nearly unnoticed.
Godsgift Onyedinefu, Abuja
