A recent investigation conducted by Exam Ethics Marshals International (EEMI) has exposed that 67% of secondary schools in Nigeria, both public and private, function as ‘exam magic centres’—institutions notorious for promoting large-scale examination malpractices.
The findings were disclosed by the founding chairman of EEMI, Ike Onyechere, during a press conference in Abuja, themed Combating the Dangers of Illegal Levies in Schools: The Role of Parents. The conference was aimed at raising parental awareness on illegal fees levied by schools and the urgent need to support the government’s ban on such unethical practices.
According to Onyechere, these ‘exam magic centres’ secure accreditation despite lacking the necessary infrastructure and academic resources to function as genuine schools. Their operations, he noted, are heavily skewed towards final-year students, where they manipulate continuous assessment scores to create an illusion of academic excellence.
“These centres tend to have small class sizes in earlier years (JS1 to SS2) but suddenly experience a surge in enrollment in SS3 due to their reputation for guaranteed exam success through fraudulent means,” he said.
He further described the chaotic environment in these schools during national examinations, where invigilators, school officials, and students collude to facilitate cheating. In many cases, students receive pre-written answers, while supervisors turn a blind eye to illegal practices in exchange for financial incentives.
One of the major concerns raised during the press briefing was the financial burden placed on parents. Many of these fraudulent institutions charge exorbitant fees, often running into hundreds of thousands of naira, under the pretext of securing ‘assured success’ for students.
“Parents, unknowingly or deliberately, fund these corrupt activities by paying for illegal levies that sustain the fraudulent exam system. These funds are shared among syndicates comprising school owners, invigilators, and external actors involved in examination malpractice,” Onyechere explained.
He warned that parents who willingly pay for these services are indirectly contributing to the destruction of their children’s moral compass and the larger societal decay.
Onyechere urged parents and stakeholders to take collective action against the growing menace of exam malpractice, stressing that the integrity of Nigeria’s education system is at stake.
“We must not allow our educational institutions to become breeding grounds for corruption and mediocrity. Exam malpractice is at the root of broader societal issues, including the lack of competence among graduates, professional inefficiencies, and even public sector corruption,” he stated.
He called on the government and education regulatory bodies, including the Ministry of Education and examination councils, to intensify their monitoring efforts and enforce stringent sanctions against defaulting institutions. He also advocated for the prosecution of individuals and institutions found guilty of promoting examination fraud.
To combat this issue effectively, Onyechere proposed the following measures:
- Strict enforcement of the government’s ban on illegal levies in schools.
- Continuous surveillance and periodic audits of schools to prevent examination malpractice.
- Stronger parental involvement in monitoring school practices.
- Severe penalties for school proprietors and exam officials found guilty of fraud.
- National awareness campaigns to educate students and parents on the dangers of exam malpractice.
Exam malpractice remains one of the biggest threats to Nigeria’s education system, with long-term consequences for national development. By taking decisive action against these fraudulent practices, the country can ensure that future generations receive an education based on merit, competence, and ethical standards.
The responsibility lies not just with the government, but with parents, school administrators, and society at large to put an end to this alarming trend.
