Mr Mike Omeri, the Director-General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Thursday decried the elevation of examination malpractice to the level of organised crime.
Represented by Mr Abikunli Modubi, an official of the agency at the campaign on “Raise Integrity Standards in the Conduct of Examinations in Nigerian Education System" in Birnin Kebbi, Omeri called on stakeholders to reverse the trend.
“Examination malpractice on large scale and consistent manner constitutes a serious social problem to the educational system and entire society.
“Examinations malpractice had produced half baked graduates, discourage honesty, hard work, collapse of educational standards at all levels, low level productivity, general inefficiency in the economy.
“And production of mediocre leaders with no regard for hard work, merit, honesty and integrity,'' he said.
The director-general also called on stakeholders to take measures that would reverse the trend, especially the danger that would face future leaders and the country.
Omeri charged them to ensure the success of the “No Examination Malpractice – Do the Right Thing, Raise Integrity in Our Schools’’ campaign.
The Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu, represented by the Head of Service, Alhaji Buhari Halidu, said that examination malpractice would retard the growth and development of society.
He called on security agencies to assist in prosecuting violators.
He also called on legislators to promulgate laws with stiff penalties against violators of examination ethics.
“Examination bodies should do the right things, so that the papers will not leak prior to examination days," he said.
The state Director of NOA, Alhaji Umar Abubakar, said that the entire society had complicity in examination malpractice and urged Nigerians to reverse the trend to restore excellence in the education sector.
“The agency will work closely with teachers, parents, school management of both public and private schools and policy formulators.
“They all have crucial roles to play in addressing this ugly situation," he said.