Zara Lianne28 May 2025
In a decisive step to restore integrity to Nigeria’s examination system, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has issued a strong directive to all major examination bodies in the country—JAMB, WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB. The directive mandates immediate action against Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres and candidates involved in any form of exam malpractice. According to the directive, any CBT centre or school found guilty of aiding or facilitating examination fraud will be blacklisted and barred from conducting future exams. This penalty is to be enforced simultaneously across all exam bodies to prevent repeat violations and maintain a consistent standard nationwide. Candidates caught engaging in malpractice are not spared either. They will face a minimum of three years suspension from taking any external examinations under these bodies. Their National Identification Numbers (NINs) will be used to track and enforce the ban, making it nearly impossible for offenders to re-register under different identities. This clampdown follows reports of widespread cheating during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). JAMB revealed that over 3,000 candidates were implicated in various irregularities, including impersonation, biometric fraud, and attempts to hack the testing system. Many of these infractions were traced to so-called “miracle centres” that promise students unearned results. Dr. Alausa emphasized that this new policy is backed by Section 16(2) of the Examination Malpractices Act, which allows examination bodies to share offender data and impose joint penalties. He noted that while the government remains committed to inclusive and equitable education, it cannot condone dishonest practices that undermine national development. “The future of our education system depends on fairness, merit, and discipline. We must send a strong message to institutions and individuals that malpractice is a serious offense with serious consequences,” the Minister said. The Federal Ministry of Education has urged all stakeholders: including school proprietors, teachers, and parents to support this new drive to sanitize the examination process. By promoting honesty and accountability, the government hopes to build a more credible and reliable assessment system that benefits all students.
Ifunanya Okafor