‎Central Examination: Abia Parents Allege N3,000 Daily Exam Malpractice Levy

…decry Decay In Education Sector
‎
‎Some parents of students participating in the ongoing Central Examination in Abia State have alleged widespread examination malpractice and extortion by the management of some secondary schools, raising fresh concerns about the state of education in Nigeria.
‎
‎The parents, who spoke separately to Newsbuka, including a civil servant who requested anonymity, alleged that despite Governor Alex Otti’s efforts to reform the education sector, some school principals and teachers continue to undermine those reforms through unethical practices.
‎
‎According to one of the parents, the Central Examination, which commenced on Tuesday, has already been marred by widespread malpractice. He alleged that some secondary schools in Ukwa Local Government Area demanded between N2,000 and N3,000 per day from SS2 students to facilitate examination malpractice.
‎
‎He further claimed that some aggrieved parents, concerned about the repeated levies imposed on their children, visited one of the affected schools in Ukwa and discovered that the money was allegedly being collected by the school management.
‎
‎The parent also recalled that during the recent First School Leaving Certificate Examination, he was required to pay money on behalf of his child for similar purposes.
‎
‎He lamented what he described as the steady decline of Nigeria’s education system, arguing that many students no longer strive to pass examinations through hard work and merit.
‎
‎The parent contrasted the current situation with the education standards of 15 to 20 years ago, when students devoted themselves to serious study in pursuit of academic excellence.
‎
‎According to him, the problem has also spread to tertiary institutions, where practices such as “sorting” and other forms of academic malpractice have become increasingly common.
‎
‎He called on the Abia State Government to undertake comprehensive reforms of the education sector, warning that urgent intervention is necessary to prevent further deterioration.
‎
‎Another parent, Chief Chuks Ibeneme, said the need to reform Nigeria’s education sector can no longer be ignored. He expressed concern over reports that pupils in both primary and secondary schools are being compelled to pay for examination malpractice, questioning why teachers are unable to adequately prepare students to succeed on merit.
‎
‎Chief Ibeneme urged Governor Alex Otti to declare a state of emergency in the education sector, insisting that “a lot of rot exists within the system” in Abia State.
‎
‎Supporting the allegations, a secondary school teacher who also pleaded anonymity admitted that corruption and examination malpractice exist in both public and private schools.
‎
‎The teacher alleged that some school principals engage in questionable practices, including imposing excessive levies on students under the guise of facilitating examination malpractice. She said the situation has discouraged many dedicated teachers, whose efforts to provide quality education are often undermined.
‎
‎”When you teach in the classroom and then end up teaching students again in the examination hall, it becomes frustrating. It is also one of the reasons many teachers lobby to supervise examinations in big schools, where they are allegedly paid to look the other way while examination malpractice takes place,” she said.
‎
‎The teacher also blamed some parents and students for enabling what she described as a “hydra-headed monster.”
‎
‎She further accused the Abia State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education of failing to take decisive action against schools allegedly involved in malpractice during the last BECE and WAEC examinations, saying the lack of sanctions has emboldened offenders.
‎
‎According to the teacher, the level of misconduct within the system has discouraged her from participating in future WAEC examination supervision.
‎
‎”At some point, I regret being a teacher because of the rot in the system,” she said.
‎
‎When contacted for a response, the Public Relations Officer of the Abia State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Marvelous Duru, told Newsbuka that the Ministry would investigate the allegations.
‎