The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has announced that examination certificates would now carry three key identifiers, including: national identification numbers, candidates’ photos and birth dates to ensure the authenticity of results.
The minister disclosed this during the inauguration of the Committee on Improvement of Quality Examinations in Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday.
He described examination malpractice as a growing threat, warning that allowing it to persist would undermine the efforts of diligent students striving to improve themselves.
“I’ve mandated all the registrars of our examination bodies, such as WAEC, NECO and NABTEB that by their next examinations scheduled for May, June and July, there will be three identifiers on the certificates they issue.
“These identifiers will be the national identification number of the candidates, picture of the candidate on the certificates and their date of birth.
“By having these three identifiers, we will ensure almost 100 per cent certainty in identifying candidates,” he stated.
He emphasised the government’s commitment to tackling widespread examination malpractices and enhancing the overall quality of the nation’s educational assessments.
According to him, tackling examination leakages requires a holistic approach, as students are not the only culprits in examination malpractices.
The minister said that parents also contributed to examination malpractices by encouraging their wards.
He added that teachers, school principals as well as those supervising the examinations were also culpable in the rising examination malpractices in the country.