The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recommended the arrest and prosecution of parents and guardians who aid and abet their children or wards in committing examination malpractice.
This call was made by ICPC Commissioner Sokoto State, Mr. Jimmy Bulus Mai, during a workshop in Sokoto titled “Significance of Prevention, Management and Control of Schools Examination, Fraud through effective Intervention of Anti-Graft Agencies in Nigeria”.
Speaking at the workshop which was organized for schools examination and continuous assessment officers by the Commission, in collaboration with Sokoto State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Mai stated that education should not merely be about the acquisition of certificates, but also about the building of character and integrity, adding that “only those who display hard work deserve to be recognized”.
He explained that fighting examination malpractice would be a lot easier if stakeholders frowned at it, and were ready to tackle its attendant negative effects on the nation’s moral values. The Commissioner expressed sadness at the fact that some parents and guardians were actively involved in their children or wards’ fraud and examination malpractice thereby making it difficult to eliminate the vice. He therefore proposed stiff sanctions for such parents or guardians.
Mr. Mai also made a case for the development of other evaluation criteria or measurement tests for scholastic ability of students noting that perhaps that would reduce the burden on examination as the only yardstick for academic progress, promotion, and reward.