The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has called for the strict implementation of computer-based testing (CBT) as part of efforts to curb examination malpractice and the alleged activities of so-called “miracle centres.”
Timothy Manga, an official of the WAEC office in Makurdi, Benue State, made the recommendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.
Manga said concerns over the alleged existence of miracle examination centres in Benue had become increasingly worrisome, although WAEC had not officially confirmed any school in the state as operating such a centre.
A “miracle centre” refers to an examination centre where organised malpractice is allegedly facilitated, enabling candidates to gain unauthorised assistance or access to answers during examinations.
Manga warned that such practices posed a serious threat to the credibility of Nigeria’s education system and undermined students who genuinely prepared for their examinations.
“Any system that rewards students for cheating undermines those who have worked hard to prepare for examinations,” he said.
He stressed that examination success should be based on knowledge, preparation and competence rather than access to unauthorised assistance.
Manga added that WAEC would continue to monitor the situation and take appropriate action if credible evidence of miracle centres emerged.
Meanwhile, a teacher at NKST Secondary School, Makurdi, Rebecca Ezekiel, said independent examination centres could help reduce the influence of schools and teachers over external examinations conducted by WAEC and the National Examinations Council (NECO).
She said CBT would give examination bodies greater control over examination venues, personnel and security arrangements.
“Candidates should be examined under conditions that are independent of the schools where they receive instructions,” Ezekiel said.
She also recommended the use of biometric verification, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and other technologies to strengthen examination monitoring and prevent malpractice.
However, Jude Odeh, a school proprietor in Otukpo Local Government Area, cautioned against labelling schools as miracle centres simply because they admit students into their final year.
Odeh said he had heard allegations about the existence of such centres in Benue but had yet to identify any particular school operating as one.
According to him, some parents transfer their children to other schools because of factors including high examination registration fees and school charges.
He noted that some schools impose examination-related fees arbitrarily, making the overall cost of education difficult for some parents to afford.
Odeh, however, said some schools in Benue do not admit new students into Senior Secondary School 3 (SS3), insisting that only students promoted from SS2 are registered for external examinations.
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