The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has de-registered 13 schools and blacklisted 14 supervisors in Kogi State for various degrees of malpractice during the 2023/2024 examinations.
In response, the Kogi State Government has announced that principals, teachers, and supervisors implicated in aiding and abetting examination malpractice will now face prosecution under the Kogi State Education Law and Other Matters Connected Therewith, 2020.
The state Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Wemi Jones, disclosed this development on Wednesday during a meeting with indicted school principals and supervisors in Lokoja, the state capital.
“WAEC has deregistered 13 schools and blacklisted 14 supervisors for their involvement in examination malpractices last year. Examination malpractice is a criminal offence and will be treated as such under the law,” Jones declared.
He added that a committee, headed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, will be established to investigate those indicted by WAEC. “Anyone found culpable will face prosecution in court,” he warned.
Jones emphasized that the state has invested heavily in its education sector and would not allow unethical practices to undermine progress.
Dr. Jibrin Alhaji, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, also addressed the gathering, urging principals and supervisors to reflect on their actions. He cautioned that their misconduct was not only detrimental to the state’s education system but also harmful to the future of students.
“While some teachers are being recognized with awards, it is disheartening for others to be called out for such condemnations. Posterity will judge us all for our deeds,” Alhaji stated.
The government’s firm stance is part of its efforts to uphold the integrity of education and secure a better future for students in Kogi State.
