West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has blacklisted about 165 schools in Kwara state following their alleged involvement in exam malpractices.
The examination body also fined the state government for the action of the schools.
It was reported that the examinations were held between 8th April and 31st May, 2019. And the affected schools are 122 public secondary schools and 43 private schools.
While each of the affected schools has to pay a fine of N250,000, the state government reacted that it is sad that WAEC has derecognised 165 schools in Kwara because of widespread cases of cheating in the 2019 senior secondary certificate examination in which some top education officials and parents were implicated.
Rafiu Ajakaye, chief press secretary to the state Governor, said in a statement on Thursday 16th January, 2020 that the current administration would not hesitate to sanction any school heads or officials that ever engage in such conduct in the future.
“The governor has threatened heavy sanctions against any school heads or officials caught aiding and abetting examination malpractices,” he stated.
“This administration also urges parents to desist from encouraging cheating in the examination. We call on Kwarans to expose this cancer. As a result of such incidents of aiding and abetting of examination malpractices.”
“This administration will now have to pay N30.5m of scarce public resources to get the necessary approval for the affected public schools to host WAEC examinations in the future. This is avoidable. Examination malpractice constitutes some of the worst hindrance to a bright future because it negates the time tested principles of hard work, diligence, and thirst for knowledge and excellence,” he added.
