The new South-West Zonal Director of the National Examination Council, Deborah Fukop, on Thursday, attributed the problem of examination malpractices in Nigeria to the supervisors, who are teachers, saying “they are the ones that compromise on integrity and not the council.”
She made this known during a courtesy visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun I, at his Alarere residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, to announce her posting to the zone and to also seek collaboration with the traditional institution in any area that could enhance the body’s operational efficiency in the region.
The PUNCH reports that Olubadan had earlier tasked NECO to critically look into the issue of examination malpractices which may stain the institution.
Fukop, who thanked the monarch for the frank talk, said, “We are conscious of our revered father’s observation and we are not folding arms because of the importance and strategic position we find ourselves. We cannot afford to fail the country, but our Royal Father would agree with me that we only conduct examinations while our supervisors, who are teachers are responsible for the execution.
“There are enough mechanisms in place to check malpractices before, during and after the examinations, but, if and when those saddled with the responsibility at any of the stages compromise the system, we become helpless. Nevertheless, we are up and doing as we give sanctions to schools and individuals found culpable as remarked by Your Imperial Majesty.”
In his remarks, Olubaban noted that the strategic position occupied by the examination body as the gate-keepers for the higher institutions across the country confers on it the need to wage war against the vice.
Oba Balogun said, “The future of this country is in your hands in that whatever you turn out as finished products through our national examination, the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination is what our tertiary institutions must as a compulsion admit because they must admit students if they don’t want to close down.
“You owe it a duty to give us the best for the sake of our future. The news we normally hear about the conduct of your examinations is not at all cheering, yet, our children must pass through you. One cannot but acknowledge the efforts being made to tackle the menace by way of sanctioning schools and some individuals involved, we want you to do more because of our future,” Olubadan urged.
