The portals of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and the National Examination Council (NECO) have just had respite from the various candidates sitting for this year’s examinations. After the JAMB examination in a few weeks time and the WAEC and NECO examinations in the months ahead, their web portals are bound to start the buzz for weeks on end.
Meanwhile, the claim last year by the WAEC that 215,627, or 11.92 per cent, of the 1,805,216 candidates that sat for the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) had their results withheld on account of examination malpractices calls for adequate preparation on the part of these examination bodies on strategies to curb examination malpractices that have become endemic in our education sector. This too should be of serious concern to parents, private school operators and government at all levels, as a well-rounded education is a pride of the future workforce.
“Our concern, however, is the alarming number of suspects, and even more concerning is the observation by WAEC that persons assigned to roles of supervision and authority, and in whom much confidence is reposed, are commonly caught in the web of examination malpractices.”
The concern should be understandable since a sound education is also one of the key legacies responsible parents desire to bequeath to their children.
Our concern, however, is the alarming number of suspects, and even more concerning is the observation by WAEC that persons assigned to roles of supervision and authority, and in whom much confidence is reposed, are commonly caught in the web of examination malpractices.
Often, these are said to include school principals, teachers, examination invigilators, supervisors and examiners. This indicates that corruption has indeed eaten deep into the fabric of our society and that morality is becoming more and more of an illusion and a pipe dream.
It is commonly reported that many parents of the older generation, mentors and would-be role models are endorsing and bequeathing antisocial values to the younger generations, and indeed the message is well received and then displayed in the most exalted, sensitive places and situations.
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Today, it is so bad that even election results are often suspect and are commonly challenged in court, with claims of the presentation of fake ballot papers, artificial scarcity of electoral materials, underage voting, manipulation of voters, the use of thugs and intimidation, the buying of votes and financial inducement of election umpire, and other corrupt practices. And even in the courts, which are supposed to be the last bastion of truth and civility, corruption looms large, with those who serve in the justice sector being openly accused of bending the law in exchange for monetary gains and other favours.
The Nigerian society today seems to be going awry, as life has become unbearable, even hazardous, as there are manipulations at every turn and crookedness on almost every path.
To deal with the scourge of malpractice at all levels, not just in our education sector, institutions responsible for the promotion of ethics in the society should be fortified and encouraged to combat examination and other public place malpractices through regular morality messaging. We are of the view that seminars and workshops should be organised by schools to educate students, parents, teachers and school administrators on the consequences of examination malpractice.
Law enforcement agents and other related government functionaries should be draughted to public examination centres to assist in the eradication of this social ill. The society must place less emphasis on materialism and paper qualifications, while students should be put through oral and written interviews to justify the certificates they present when applying for jobs.
The society must encourage, edify and openly reward honesty, integrity and hard work. Staff in all educational institutions should be continuously trained and adequately remunerated to promote hard work and commitment to duty.
Above all, sanction should be apt and made public whenever there is an infraction to serve as a deterrent.
