UMUAHIA — The Abia State Examinations Development Centre, EDC, has prohibited the collection of unauthorised fees from candidates and warned against examination malpractice in secondary schools across the state.
The directive comes a day after a Newsbuka report published on Thursday alleged that the management of some secondary schools in Ukwa was collecting a ₦3,000 “Daily Exam Malpractice Levy” from candidates sitting the ongoing Central Examination.
In a circular dated Friday and addressed to all principals of secondary schools, the EDC Director said the Centre had received allegations of unauthorised collections from candidates in some schools.
The circular, titled “Prohibition of Unauthorised Collections and Examination Malpractice During the Ongoing Central Examination,” reminded principals that no candidate or parent should be required or compelled to pay any money for examination assistance, cooperation, supervision, invigilation, welfare, transportation of scripts or any other unauthorised examination-related purpose.
The EDC directed all principals to ensure that no teacher, supervisor, invigilator or any other person collects unauthorised money from candidates or their parents in connection with the examination.
It further warned that no candidate should be assisted or allowed to receive answers from any person during the examination, stressing that examination rules and regulations must be strictly observed at all centres.
”Any attempt to compromise the integrity of the examination should be reported immediately to the Examinations Development Centre,” the circular stated.
The Centre also directed that candidates must be allowed to sit the examination in a peaceful, fair and properly supervised environment, adding that no candidate should be victimised or prevented from writing the examination for refusing to make any unauthorised payment.
Principals were further instructed to preserve all records relating to payments collected from students during the examination period and make such records available whenever required.
According to the circular, monitoring and investigation teams will visit examination centres when the examination resumes. It urged principals, teachers, supervisors and other examination personnel to cooperate fully with the teams.
The circular added that any school or individual found culpable after investigation would be reported to the appropriate authorities for disciplinary and other administrative action.
”Please ensure strict compliance,” the circular concluded.
After Newsbuka report, Abia EDC issues circular banning illegal examination fees
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