By Maxwell Menkiti Ngene
In Nigeria’s private secondary school sector, a disturbing trend has taken root over several decades now. The pursuit of profit and prestige has led some proprietors to prioritize high grades in Senior Secondary Schools Certificate Examinations and illicit wealth over genuine learning, compromising academic standards and integrity. This ugly practice has given birth to the emergence of what is popularly known as “magic centres” a centre where better grades and academic success are guaranteed for patronizing students and their fraudulent or naive parents.
This alarming practice has far-reaching negative consequences, undermining the very foundation of education. It is time for the government and stakeholders to take collective action and ensure that private secondary schools in Nigeria uphold the values of academic excellence and integrity.
The craze for high grades has led some schools to engage in widespread unethical practices, including grade inflation, paying huge sums of money to ensure students come out in flying colours, and hiring highly unqualified teachers. There is also an overemphasis on rote learning. These practices may boost short-term results but ultimately harm students, perpetuating a culture of mediocrity and undermining their future prospects.
To combat this, private secondary school administrators must prioritize academic rigor and meaningful learning over primitive accumulation of wealth and high grades for intellectual minnows. They must foster a culture of integrity and transparency, ensuring the pursuit of academic excellence is uppermost in their minds.
The federal and state governments must also beam their searchlights on private schools to ensure adherence to total quality control. Private school proprietors should prioritize hiring qualified teachers and invest in staff development programmes. The emphasis should be on producing students who can demonstrate knowledge, critical thinking, and creativity.
Collaboration between private school owners and education stakeholders is crucial for accountability. Parents must prioritize their children’s learning over inflated grades, encouraging a growth mindset and supporting schools that value academic integrity. They must engage in open dialogue with teachers and administrators and continually advocate for education excellence.
Together, we can safeguard Nigeria’s education system, ensuring private secondary schools become bastions of academic integrity where students develop the skills, knowledge, and character to succeed in a complex world. Let us join forces to restore the value of genuine education, promote a culture of integrity, and empower students for future success. We must enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global market. The future of our nation depends on our collective action. Let us protect it by upholding academic integrity in our private secondary schools.
