NAN-H-49
Malpractice
By Kate Obande
Abuja, Nov.23, 2016 (NAN) The Exam Ethics Marshal International (EEMI) a non-governmental organization, has called on the Independent Corrupt Practice Commission (ICPC) to set up a Special Task Force on examination malpractice to identify and punish culprits.
Chairman of the organization, Mr Ike Onyechere, made the suggestion in Abuja on Wednesday while presenting a paper during an anti-corruption sensitisation workshop for examination bodies, organised by ICPC.
Onyechere said that the taskforce was necessary to the rampant cases of examination malpractice as it would identify culprits with a view to prosecuting and banning them from further participation in Nigerian exams.
He noted that 10 million results had been cancelled in Nigeria due to malpractices, 6,500 ‘magic’ centres uncovered and 10,000 rogue exam supervisors reported, yet nobody had been prosecuted.
“Results of 10 million candidates in post-primary exit and tertiary institutions admission examinations have been cancelled between 1996 and 2016, yet nothing happened.
“Over 10,000 principals, supervisors, teachers and invigilators as well as other administrators have been announced to abet and aid exam malpractice.
“Their identities are however treated as top secrets, foreclosing any efforts at bringing them to justice as there is no record of prosecution and conviction of law court of any of the kingpins.
“Unless and until these embedded exam fraud syndicate members are identified, removed and brought to justice, the process of examination, admission and training, will continue to be hopelessly criminalised,’’ Onyechere said.
He also advised that an exam malpractice desk be established in the department of education in the commission to drive the process of collecting and collating information relating to exam malpractices.
He added that for corruption to be effectively addressed in the education sector, examination boards should expose and publish names of rogue exam administrators to deter others from such practice.
The chairman said that it was imperative for examination boards to regularly screen their employees, supervisors and centres, to weed out embedded members of exam fraud syndicates.
In her address, Mrs Ifeoma Isiugo-Abanthe, Registrar, National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), also called for the prosecution and conviction of perpetrators of exam malpractice.
She defined examination as a tool used in measuring the proficiency in knowledge and skills possessed by candidates.
Isiugo-Abanthe added that exam malpractice in Nigeria was a cankerworm that posed a threat to authenticity of educational qualifications.
“Examination malpractice is any form of deliberate, dishonest or unethical deed, contrary to official examination rules and regulations, which make a candidate, have an unfair advantage or disadvantage over others.
“It is illegal and can be perpetrated by an individual or group,’’ she said.
The Registrar attributed the causes of exam malpractice to moral decadence, undue emphasis on examination results and certificates, as well as the quest for material wealth.
She added that incessant strike by academic staff which interrupted school programme was a major contributing factor to malpractices, explaining that most times, students just returned to school after strike and entered exam halls.(NAN)
KTE/ASH/ASH