The 3-year Ban For Examination Cheats

Recent developments in Nigeria’s education sector have laid bare the appalling rot eating deep into its foundations.

From the alleged mismanagement of ₦71 billion under the nascent student loan scheme involving banks and some universities, to widespread glitches in the last Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), and from the leaking of English Language questions in the ongoing Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE), to the tragic collapse of a classroom block on SSSCE candidates in Taraba State, the signs are ominous. These events point unmistakably to a sector in severe decay.

Added to this is the revelation that over 75 per cent of candidates in the 2025 UTME scored 200 marks or below, with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) confirming that the examination had some technical glitches, with a good number having to resit the exam.

Perhaps the most disturbing incident was the leak of examination questions that forced candidates to sit for the SSSCE at night using torchlights, an action that has rightly attracted widespread condemnation.

In response, the minister of education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, directed that any candidate found guilty of exam malpractice should be barred from sitting for any external examination for the next three years.

While we share the minister’s concern and support all genuine efforts to curb this menace, we believe that this proposed punishment is cosmetic and selective.

The Nigerian experience has shown that examination malpractice is not confined to students alone. Parents, teachers, school owners, and even top officials in public and private institutions are deeply complicit. So, why then should only the candidates bear the brunt of punishment?

In previous years, parents were caught impersonating their children in critical examinations. What was the outcome of such a revelation? Beyond media coverage and public outrage, no real consequences followed. This underlines the entrenched nature of the problem and the reluctance of authorities to tackle it systemically.

Moreover, the Examination Malpractices Act, Cap E15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 already provides for stiffer and more comprehensive penalties. The Act outlines clear definitions of examination malpractice, including impersonation, the use of unauthorised materials, fraudulent devices, and collusion between candidates, and prescribes fines up to ₦100,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years. It also stipulates that only the Federal High Court can try such cases.

Thus, it is not the absence of laws that has made malpractice the norm. Rather, it is the consistent failure to prosecute offenders diligently and transparently.

We therefore urge the federal and state governments to collaborate to implement this law effectively. Furthermore, certain archaic provisions in the Act should be amended. For instance, the exclusive jurisdiction granted to the Federal High Court should be reconsidered to allow for faster and more accessible prosecution. There should also be specific timeframes for concluding such cases, to ensure swift justice and send a clear deterrent message to would-be offenders.

Mass sensitisation is also crucial. Many candidates, parents, teachers, and school proprietors remain unaware of what constitutes examination malpractice and the legal consequences. This knowledge gap must be closed through sustained public enlightenment campaigns.

Examination malpractice has become a cancer in Nigeria’s education system. It undermines the credibility of academic assessments and qualifications. If not decisively addressed, it threatens to devalue Nigerian certificates and flood the labour market with unqualified graduates.

As a newspaper, we urge the government to go beyond surface-level interventions like the proposed three-year ban. The root causes – lack of adequate preparation, undue parental pressure, a flawed value system, and institutional corruption – must be addressed.

Parents must reduce the psychological pressure they place on children and stop imposing subject choices and career paths. Candidates should be allowed to pursue courses aligned with their interests and abilities.

Security around examination venues must also be tightened. Invigilators and school officials who collude to enable cheating must be held accountable. Without stringent oversight, efforts to curb malpractice will fall flat.

Therefore, the fight against examination malpractice must be waged collectively, with equal commitment from government, educators, parents, and students.

If we do not act now, we risk raising a generation of certificate holders who lack the knowledge, competence, and integrity to drive Nigeria’s progress.