By Kemi Yesufu
Owners of Computer Based Test Centres (CBTC) have described as deplorable, the high level of exam malpractice recorded during the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in recent years.
Speaking at a media briefing on results from a fact finding mission to seventeen states in the south by CBTC Proprietors Association of Nigeria, (CPAN), National President of the association, Mr. Maxwell Akwuruoha, said exam malpractice during UTME has reached an alarming proportion.
He called on critical stakeholders in the education sector, including the Federal Ministry of Education and the Joint Matriculation Board (JAMB), to jointly address the challenge of posed by the ugly trend.
Akwuruoha also suggested a review of the 21-year jail sentence for exam malpractice, saying it should be replaced with a realistic penalty.
“A clinical address of exam malpractice would involve all stakeholders in the education sector.
“There is a great need to pay attention to the process that graduates pupils, students or candidates at all levels of education, with the needed political will to check exam malpractice through the proposal of realistic laws, penalties and enforcements”, he said.
CPAN listed other areas which need immediate and lasting interventions towards improving the credibility of the UTME and to make life easy for candidates, to include improving the structure for registration, exam venues as well as training for JAMB adhoc technical staff.
The association rejected plans by JAMB to create and run mega centres to the detriment of many privately run CBTCs.
“Nigerians need to know that in our little capacities, we are serving our nation and should be commended, while CPAN charges proprietors to make improvements.
“Nigerians should reflect with us on what happens when JAMB vanquishes all private centres in the guise of building its own mega centres, as even supported by stakeholders in the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)”.
Akwuruoha disclosed that the association will undertake a tour of the northern states in order to find out the challenges of conducting UTME in the region. He also sought improved collaboration between all stakeholders for overall improvement in handling the exam taken by persons seeking admission into higher institutions in Nigeria.
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