Education Minister Tunji Alausa says all stakeholders must take responsibility for protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s examination system
The Federal Government has warned parents, teachers, school proprietors and students against engaging in examination malpractice, stressing that all stakeholders have a responsibility to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s education system.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, issued the warning amid renewed concerns over examination malpractice and the alleged leakage and sale of examination question papers before candidates sit for examinations.
Alausa said the government would no longer treat examination malpractice as an issue involving students alone, noting that adults within the education system also have important roles to play in preventing practices that undermine the credibility of public examinations.
The minister has previously described the level of examination malpractice in the country as alarming, revealing that some examination questions had allegedly been obtained and sold to candidates before the scheduled examinations.
He disclosed that in one instance, an examination question paper was allegedly sold for as little as N3,000 before the examination.
According to the minister, such practices create an unfair environment in which students who prepare genuinely for examinations are placed at a disadvantage against those who obtain unauthorised access to examination materials.
Alausa warned that examination malpractice does more than compromise individual results. It also threatens the credibility of academic qualifications and could ultimately produce graduates whose certificates do not accurately reflect their knowledge or competence.
He therefore called on parents to discourage their children from seeking leaked questions or unauthorised assistance during examinations, stressing that genuine academic preparation remains the proper path to success.
Teachers and school proprietors were similarly urged to ensure that their institutions do not facilitate or tolerate examination malpractice.
The minister emphasised that school authorities must establish a culture of honesty and academic integrity while ensuring that students understand the consequences of cheating.
He also urged students to resist pressure to obtain examination questions illegally, reminding them that academic success achieved through malpractice may have serious long-term consequences.
The Federal Government's warning comes as authorities continue efforts to strengthen examination security and reduce opportunities for question-paper leakage, impersonation, collusion and other forms of malpractice.
The government has also been promoting measures aimed at making examination papers more secure and reducing the possibility of candidates benefiting from leaked materials.
Alausa stressed that protecting the integrity of examinations requires cooperation among examination bodies, schools, parents, teachers, students and the wider society.
He maintained that no single institution can successfully tackle examination malpractice without the support and commitment of other stakeholders.
The minister called for a collective commitment to restoring confidence in Nigeria’s examination system and ensuring that academic qualifications remain a true reflection of students’ abilities, knowledge and hard work.
The Federal Government is expected to continue strengthening measures designed to prevent examination malpractice while holding individuals and institutions responsible for compromising the integrity of public examinations.
The warning serves as a reminder to parents, teachers, proprietors and students that the responsibility for maintaining credible examinations extends beyond examination halls and requires vigilance throughout the entire education system.
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