The National President of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Muhammed Ibn Musa, has raised fresh concerns over the persistent menace of examination malpractice in the country, describing it as “a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the society.”
In a press statement issued on Sunday, ANCOPSS Boss lamented that the problem has plagued Nigeria for decades without abating.
“Examination malpractice is a cankerworm that has bedevilled our nation for a long time. It dates back many years and has continued to gain wide patronage as the years pass by,” he said.
According to Musa, the situation poses a major threat to the credibility of the nation’s education system. “The ugly development calls for serious concerns if we must maintain the integrity and validity of our assessment process and certification,” he added.
Musa urged a more determined national effort, stressing: “The battle against examination malpractice should be fought with vigour to bring the monster to a halt.”
The ANCOPSS leader expressed worry that instead of subsiding, malpractice has become increasingly acceptable. “It is very worrisome that rather than abating, examination malpractice has continued to gain wide acceptance. This of course has attendant consequences on individuals, institutions, and society as a whole,” he said.
He observed that government and stakeholders have tried to curb the menace, but the perpetrators continue to devise new tricks. “Desperate efforts by governments and stakeholders to discourage examination malpractice have not yielded the desired results. Rather, the perpetrators of this malady have always sought new ways to prosecute their evil agenda,” he noted.
Musa acknowledged that examination bodies have introduced innovations to restore credibility, citing the decision of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to introduce Computer-Based Testing (CBT) in English Language and Mathematics during the 2025 WASSCE.
“The results released recently were greeted with outcry in many quarters, especially as many candidates were taken aback by the introduction of CBT. The performance of candidates in English Language and Mathematics reflects the impact of the innovation by WAEC. CBT came with teething challenges, but those who prepared adequately for the examination celebrated while those who employed underhand means stared in utter disbelief and disapproval,” he explained.
On the government’s role, Musa commended successive administrations for refusing to compromise on issues of examination malpractice. He particularly praised the current Minister of Education, Dr. Moroof Tunji Alausa, noting that “his passion and drive serve as inspiration to examination bodies in the country to want to act with integrity and dignity.”
Highlighting ANCOPSS’s role as a major stakeholder in the education sector, Musa said the association sits in the council of examination bodies like WAEC and NECO and provides government with policy advice.
The ANCOPSS President further commended WAEC for introducing CBT, describing it as a step in the right direction. “Many clandestine moves were not only frustrated but also checkmated,” he remarked, urging other examination bodies to adopt proactive measures that will guarantee credibility.
Reaffirming ANCOPSS’s stance, Musa declared: “We will stand by examination bodies in their quest to make legitimate moves toward getting it right. The die is cast! All hands must be on deck to ensure credibility of our examinations so that Nigeria can truly boast of credible education, assessment, and certification. This is one sure way to nip in the bud, catastrophe waiting to happen.”
