By Igwe, Emma O.
PRO. Minitry of Education
Ebonyi State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Paul A. Nwobasi , has charged students siting for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, to remain focused, disciplined, and law abiding, stressing that examination malpractice tarnishes the reputation of individuals, schools, and the state at large.
Professor Nwobasi gave this charge while monitoring the conduct of the examination in various schools across Abakaliki, the state capital.
He expressed satisfaction with the peaceful atmosphere and high level of compliance observed among students , school management and examination officials.
The Commissioner reiterated the state government’s zero-tolerance stance on examination fraud, warning individuals and centres operating illegal Magic or Miracle centers to desist from such nefarious acts.
According to him , the state has already clamped down on several unapproved centres found culpable during previous examinations.
“Our students must understand that hard work and discipline remain the only sustainable path to success. The state government under the leadership of His Excellency ,Rt. Hon. Bld. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, is investing heavily in the education sector. We must all uphold values that protect and promote the integrity of our education system”, he stated.
Representing the Commissioner during the monitoring exercise was the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Education ,Hon. Peter Nwogbaga Rekare. Who led the team to several schools.
He explained that the visit was not meant to intimidate or victimize students but rather to inspire confidence, reinforce the culture of integrity, and encourage students to eschew all forms of misconduct.
Hon. Nwogbaga urged Principals and teachers to be relentless in their commitment to quality education and the eradication of malpractice.
He described examination fraud as a societal ill that undermines the nation’s educational foundation and called on all stakeholders to be vigilant and uphold ethical standard in the conduct of public examinations.
“The future of our state depends on how well we nurture our young minds today. Teachers must take pride in their roles as mentors and school administrators must ensure that no gap is created for misconduct to thrive, Nwogbaga added.
The HOD, Science Technology and High education,Pastor Alegu Sunday who was the part of the monitoring team, appealed to examination officials and invigilators to be punctual and diligent in the discharge of their duties.
He emphasized the importance of strict adherence to examination timetables and timely distribution of materials to avoid unnecessary hitches.
Responding on behalf of the schools visited, the Principal of Urban Modern Secondary School, Hon. Dcn. Buguma Eze Jacob, commended the state government for its proactive oversight.
He reaffirmed the school,s readiness to uphold all examination guidelines and stated that the students had been thoroughly prepared ahead of the time.
Similarly, Mr. Ujebe Peter, Principal of Abakaliki High School, PRESCO, expressed optimism that students in his school would make Ebonyi State proud.
He noted that the students had received adequate tutoring and moral instruction and were expected to excel based on merit.
The monitoring team visited several schools in the capital, including, Zion Comprehensive college, Mgbabo Achara, Ifedowin Excellent school, City Salt collage , Community secondary school Umuaghara, Holy Ghost Modern secondary school among others as the Students were seen writing their examination with utmost seriousness, while invigilators maintained decorum in the examination halls.
The team’s presence further reinforced the state government s commitment to transparent and credible assessments, which aligns with national efforts to restore excellence to the country’s educational system.
As WASSCE progresses, the Ebonyi State Ministry of Education has vowed to maintain regular supervision to ensure that the sanctity of the examination process is preserved.
