The Federal Government has warned parents, teachers, school proprietors, principals, invigilators, and students against practices capable of compromising the integrity of public examinations, as it moves to tighten controls across Nigeria’s assessment system.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, issued the warning during a meeting with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) and other education stakeholders, according to a statement released on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah.
Alausa said examination malpractice had become deeply rooted in the education system, creating an uneven playing field for candidates who prepare honestly.
He explained that the damage extends beyond individual examinations. The practice can distort academic results, penalise diligent students and weaken public confidence in qualifications awarded by Nigerian institutions.
The minister stressed that responsibility for curbing malpractice cannot be placed solely on candidates. Parents, teachers, proprietors, school heads, invigilators, and other actors, he said, all have a role in preserving examination standards.
He called on stakeholders to enforce examination rules, create suitable learning conditions and prevent candidates from gaining improper access to examination materials.
Alausa disclosed that the Federal Government was strengthening examination administration to make public examinations more secure and ensure that grades reflect actual learning and merit.
The measures, he said, form part of the education reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which seek to raise academic standards, improve accountability and restore confidence in the country’s assessment process.
The Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, also highlighted a problem that could become more visible as examination controls are tightened.
Ahmad said some students who appear to perform exceptionally well in school-based assessments may have developed a dependence on leaked questions before external examinations. Closing that avenue, she explained, could expose weaknesses in their actual preparation.
She said the introduction of serialised examination questions would make it more difficult for candidates to rely on leaked materials and would place greater emphasis on genuine preparation.
“Stronger examination controls could initially expose gaps in students’ actual preparation,” Ahmad said, while explaining the likely effect of the reforms on schools and candidates.
She therefore called on private schools to complete their curricula on schedule and foster regular study habits among students.
The minister also assured proprietors that the Ministry of Education would continue engaging with them during the implementation of the new measures.
The central objective is to make examination results a dependable reflection of what students know and can do, rather than an indication of their access to illicit assistance.
The renewed focus on examination integrity also shifts attention to the entire chain surrounding public assessments. From the classroom and home to examination centres, each stakeholder has responsibilities that can either strengthen or weaken the credibility of the final result.
The government’s warning therefore places schools, families and candidates on notice that the success of the reforms will depend not only on tighter examination procedures, but also on the willingness of those involved to uphold them.
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