The National Council on Education has indicted 20 secondary schools in Bayelsa State that were allegedly involved in examination malpractices during the 2021/2022 terminal examinations organised recently by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) in the country.

Jacob Osusu, the Director of the Secondary Education Department in the state Ministry of Education, announced this at a one-day sensitisation programme with the theme, “Examination Malpractices in Public and Private Secondary Schools and its Effects: The Way Forward”, in Yenagoa.

According to him, 23 teachers were also found culpable for allegedly aiding and abetting examination malpractices in the state.

Osusu said that out of the 20 indicted secondary schools, five of them had been de-recognised as examination centres in Bayelsa while the rest 15 were handed stern warning based on the degree of the offences committed.

Expressing concern over the incidents, he said, “five schools were de-recognised and they are made up of four public schools and one private school based on different forms of examination malpractices with candidates colluding with one another, topping the list of offences.

“While 15 other secondary schools were given warning letters based on similar reasons. Also, 23 participants (teachers) in the WAEC/NECO were also blacklisted and dropped from further supervision of such examinations in the state,” he said.

He called on the state ministry of education and the state government to punish principals of secondary schools found culpable in order to discourage the rising rate of examination malpractices in schools in the state.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Gentle Emelah, said the government had noted the decision of the national council on education.

He said that the state lacked sufficient teachers at present, stressing that “those available should ensure that students are well groomed to face the challenges of examinations without involving in malpractices.”

Also speaking, the permanent secretary in the state ministry of education, Christopher Ewhrudjakpo, said the report of the national council on education had been forwarded to the state Governor, Douye Diri, with a view to meting out appropriate sanctions that would be recommended to serve as a deterrent to others. (Daily Independent)

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