The Ebonyi State Government has paid a total sum of N50 million to the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) over alleged malpractices and the de-recognition of 345 private, mission, and public schools in the state by the exam body. This is to enable students of the 345 different schools derecognized by WAEC to register for the examination this year.
The State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Sunday Nwangele, disclosed that the State Governor, Chief David Umahi, approved the sum of N50 million, which has been remitted to the exam council. The governing council of WAEC last year derecognized 345 schools in the state over examination malpractices and fined each of the schools N500,000 and other logistics for the conduct of external exams or loss the chances of registering for the exam for 2 consecutive years.
Out of the 345 schools derecognized, 196 are public schools, while 149 are private schools. Dr. Nwangele expressed regret that there was no malpractice form filled by any school following exam malpractice and wondered how the examination council came up with the claim. He added that the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of some of the affected schools has also intervened, and all the schools in the State have registered for the examination, having reached an agreement with the examination body.
As a result of the de-recognition, the State Government has appealed to the exam body to write off the balance of the fine, but the Commissioner for Education noted that the State does not tolerate any form of exam malpractice but had to comply in the interest of the students and parents. He assured that all the students would register and write their WAEC examination, as all public schools have registered for the WAEC examination 2023.
To curb the issue of exam malpractice, the Governor directed the Commissioner for Education to convey to all the school principals a serious warning that any school involved in exam malpractices if confirmed will have the principal of such school sacked. The recognition is not peculiar to Ebonyi State; it is a national issue, and the State Government had to take action to ensure its students participate in the examination.
In conclusion, the payment of the fine and the de-recognition of schools in Ebonyi State by WAEC is a lesson for other schools across Nigeria to desist from any form of exam malpractice, as the government will not condone such actions.