April 24, 2018

African Initiative Against Corruption and Exam Malpractice (AIACEM), an NGO, has called for a probe into the ongoing Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE).

Mr Francis Abioye, National Coordinator, AIACEM, stated this in a statement he signed him and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Owerri.

Abioye claimed that the ongoing SSCE has been marred with malpractice.

He said that the anti-graft group had petitioned WAEC to look into the allegation and bring the culprits to book.

“There is a coordinated examination malpractice involving external invigilators, principals, teachers, parents and students in the ongoing SSCE examination.

“We urge WAEC to immediately put in place machinery to checkmate the ugly trend. As the 2018 SSCE result could not be accurate because of those who had compromised their responsibilities.

“So, the ongoing SSCE across the nation has been marred with organised malpractice whereby school principals are requesting money from students to organise examination malpractice for them.
“Unfortunately, parents are paying and this is ongoing now and the NGO is seriously challenging it,’’ he said.

He said the NGO was partnering with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and other stakeholders to ensure that the educational system was sanitised.

Abioye called on WAEC to ensure that the culprits are brought to book as the NGO would always be proactive in fighting corruption.

He described as `unfortunate’ the trend whereby cheats and those who cut corners thrive in the country.

According to him, tackling the problem goes beyond WAEC and NECO, but rather the country should think of serious measures to check the ugly trend.

“As examination malpractice is endemic in Nigeria and students no longer see the need to work hard but rely on malpractice to achieve their goal,” he said.