Whatever internal mechanisms the National Examinations Council (NECO) put in place to curb examination malpractice is proving to be innovational. This is evidenced by the gradual disappearance of the examination body’s live question papers from the radar of fraudulent school proprietors and “miracle centres”. Credit for this goes to NECO management team led by Acting Registrar, Mallam Abubakar Gana.

One major outcome of plugging holes with a view to conducting credible examinations has also led to gradual change of attitude on the part of students who, hitherto, relied on the services of “miracle centres”. From the look of things, more parents and their wards are beginning to see NECO in a different and, more positive, light! Expectedly, the innovations have rekindled the hope of a world-class examination body in Nigeria.

Among several advantages, NECO provides students who overcome examination fever the opportunity not to waste an extra year to qualify for admission into tertiary institutions! Expectedly, the measures to combat examination malpractice have led to unfair assessment of NECO by beneficiaries of the rots of the past who believe it should be business as usual. NECO management team needs the support of Nigerians in its war against examination malpractice, if the examination body is to sustain the modest gains it has recorded in credible examinations.

Central to NECO’s effort is sanitising activities at its custodian points. Hitherto, it was at this point that most atrocities were perpetrated. NECO management discovered this early in the day and promptly dispensed with the services of ad hoc staff at custodian points; the vital role is now played by its bona fide staff. Under the prevailing arrangement, dishonest custodians would be putting their jobs on the line if they are caught abetting malpractices. What is more, NECO, unlike its competitors, practices the costly but foolproof practice of delivering question papers on examination days.

Still, there is the need for NECO management to continue to stay ahead of fraudsters. Reason for this is that, over the past several years, examination bodies other than NECO have suffered the fate of having their live question papers posted on social media by fraudsters several hours before the commencement of examinations. In its bid to escape this fate and to continue to conduct credible examinations, NECO management cannot afford to lower its guard. This will entail adopting a combination of factors.

The starting point is for NECO management to concede that, like other human organisations, NECO has its fair share of venal officials who would do anything for the love of lucre. If they have their way, it is these in-house venal and corruptible officials that will sabotage NECO management’s genuine efforts at building a world-class examination body. The searchlight must constantly be focussed on Janus-faced officials.

In this regard, more has to be done to safeguard question papers at various NECO state offices and when they are on transit to custodian points. From the look of things, it is at this critical point that malpractices could be perpetrated. One of two things could be done in this regard: either state offices are bypassed as storage points for vital examination materials or, if they must continue to play the role, patently incorruptible officers should be drafted to head state offices. In all instances, management must insist on applying necessary sanctions in the event of infractions.

Ultimately, the establishment of a NECO printing press is the right way forward. What this means is that NECO management can exercise direct control over staff of the printing press, who should normally be bona fide staff of the organisation. If the success of protecting NECO website from hackers is anything to go by, it is accepted that NECO would be able to exercise total control of its printing its question papers. In the meantime, it might not be a bad idea to consider the National Security Printing and Minting Company as printing outlet for NECO examination papers.

Rising cases of examination malpractice is an indication of how corrupt and morally bankrupt most Nigerians, high and low, have become. By its nature, examination malpractice is a manifestation of how morally bankrupt the country has gone. Because many students rely on parents and miracle centres to pass examinations, the tendency is that students no longer see any dignity in hard work. The patriotic message and prayer in the national anthem is lost on many.

The essence of any educational system is to inculcate the spirit of discipline in its recipients but, this is not possible in a society where all manner of illegalities have been elevated to an art. If truth be told, most cases of collapsed buildings, death through medical negligence, drug trafficking, armed robbery, drug adulteration, separatist agitation, insurgency and low quality political leadership are all direct consequences of examination malpractice.

Instructively, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, has consistently emphasised that any genuine effort at national rebirth and moral rejuvenation will come to naught if education is not revolutionised. There is scant doubt that eradicating examination malpractice is central to any effort at turning the education system around. For too long, examination malpractice has become a phenomenon that is so widespread and seemingly formidable to have defied several attempts at squelching it. Yet, evidence on ground suggests that the war is not invincible.

It may not yet be eureka but, NECO’s conduct of public examinations of recent is a sign that the war against examination malpractice is winnable. Of equal significance is that steps taken by NECO management over the past several months to reinforce the belief among Nigerians that the country’s national examination body is on course to joining the league of the world’s top examination bodies.

•Abdulrazaq Magaji is based in Abuja and can be reached on: magaji778@gmail.com

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