The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Nasarawa State chapter, has identified lack of political will by the government at all levels to prioritise education as a major cause for examination malpractice in the country.
The association also identified desperation for certificates, corruption, low quality and dysfunctional education system as other reasons for the examination malpractice.
Mrs Charity Manzuche, the state Chairman of the association and a former commissioner for Women Affairs and Proprietor of Shalom Christian Academy, Akwanga, said that the only therapy for examination malpractice is to promote and deliver quality and functional education.
She said, “Education is expected to be a transformative tool but on the contrary, we are not getting the best, why because we promote certificate more than knowledge, hence the genesis of examination malpractice in our national landscape.
“It is also because of lack of coherence between the education policy, traditional values and the cultural practices as well as lack of total commitment of the government to educational matters especially on allocation of resources to the sector.
“Poor welfare package for teachers which make them feel that they are second-rated personnel in the economy are some of the reasons fuelling examination malpractice in schools.”
According to her, examination malpractice in schools is counter-productive to the purpose and goals of the nation.
Manzuche explained that was why the country’s economy got worse because the educators who are expected to be positive models are now promoting and serving as mercenaries for miracle centres.
She called on civil society and other relevant stakeholders to take drastic steps to ensure that examination malpractice is curbed in schools and the society at large.
The chairman, therefore, called on the government to support private schools with grants in order to improve on the standard of education in the state.
Mr Oyebisi Davidcrown, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Educational Empowerment and Orientation (CEEO Nigeria), an NGO, also said that examination malpractice had affected the education sector negatively.
He called for all hands to be on deck in order to address the menace for the overall development of the education sector and the country at large.
The chief executive officer advised students to always take their studies seriously in order to excel in their academic pursuit so as to justify their parents and government huge investment in their training.
NAN
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