Chidimma Uchegbu
The federal government has announced stricter measures to curb examination malpractices, warning that students found guilty could face up to a three-year ban from participating in external examinations.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has ordered a crackdown on schools or computer-based test centres that conduct mass malpractice.
According to JAMB’s communications advisor, Fabian Benjamin, the new policy holds that such centres would be derecognised for some years, as determined by the relevant examination body.
Benjamin said other examination bodies (including WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB) were to replicate any such sanctions concurrently on the same centres.
“This will send a powerful signal to operators of these ‘miracle centres,” JAMB’s statement reads in part.
In addition to institutional sanctions, JAMB said the three-year ban from participating in external exams by any student found guilty of examination malpractices will be enforced using the candidate’s national identification number.
“This directive is also by Section 16(2) of the Examination Malpractices Act,” the board said, citing the provision that allows examination bodies to circulate names of offenders for cross-body sanctions.
The policy, JAMB said, aims to curb growing examination misconduct and restore integrity to Nigeria’s secondary education system.
JAMB said the directive takes effect immediately and called on the public, especially parents and students, to take note.
