The Federal Ministry of Education has launched an extensive nationwide monitoring and evaluation campaign to eliminate exam malpractices, particularly in schools operating as ‘miracle centres.’
The initiative, which commenced on Tuesday with an on-the-spot assessment at Redeemer Teap International School in Abuja, is spearheaded by the Federal Education Quality Assurance Service (FEQAS). Speaking during the visit, Team Lead Rukayat Ibrahim reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enforcing ethical examination practices in schools across the country.
“This nationwide assessment is being conducted simultaneously across all states and the Federal Capital Territory. Unlike previous evaluations that lasted two to three days, this model allows us to assess a school within three hours, ensuring greater coverage and efficiency,” Ibrahim explained. She added that the findings will be swiftly reported to the appropriate authorities for immediate intervention.
The crackdown follows the success of a similar evaluation in 2007, which led to the blacklisting of non-compliant schools and a significant reduction in examination fraud. The period between 2008 and 2010 is widely regarded as a time when examination ethics reached some of their highest standards in Nigeria’s educational history.
Yinka Amodu, another official from the FEQAS department, highlighted the broader scope of the assessment, which extends beyond secondary schools to include primary schools, creches, and early childhood education centres.
“In 2007, our evaluations exposed several ‘kangaroo schools’ operating without proper registration, employing unqualified teachers, and lacking basic infrastructure. Many of these schools functioned in dilapidated buildings, compromising both safety and quality education. This time, we aim to not only identify such institutions but also enforce necessary reforms,” Amodu stated.
The Ministry’s assessment criteria include the quality of teaching personnel, infrastructure adequacy, availability of ICT facilities, well-equipped laboratories, and adherence to safety protocols such as perimeter fencing and health clinics. Schools found violating these standards risk penalties, including withdrawal of accreditation.
In response, Oladimeji Yusuf, the Principal of Redeemer Teap International School, assured the assessment team of the institution’s commitment to implementing the recommended improvements. He emphasized that the school prioritizes quality education and would continue to enhance learning conditions for students and teachers alike.
This decisive move underscores the Federal Government’s renewed stance on academic integrity and its long-term goal of restoring credibility to Nigeria’s examination system. The Ministry has urged all educational institutions to cooperate fully with assessment teams and implement corrective measures where necessary to align with global best practices in education.
The campaign is expected to intensify in the coming weeks, with more schools set to undergo rigorous scrutiny, ensuring that the era of compromised examination ethics is firmly put to an end.
