Olu Samuel, Lokoja

The West African Examination Council has de-recognized 13 schools and blacklisted 14 supervisors for various degrees of malpractices in the 2023/2024 examinations in the state.

Following this development, Principals, teachers and supervisors who aids and abets examination malpractices will henceforth be prosecuted in accordance with Kogi State Education Law and Other Matters Connected Therewith, 2020.

Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Wemi Jones made this known on Wednesday in Lokoja in a meeting with some principals and Supervisors who were indicted by West African Examination Council (WAEC) for exam malpractices.

“Examination malpractices is a criminal offence and will be treated in accordance with the law.Subsequently, a Committee headed by the Permanent Secretary will be set up to investigate personalities that were indicted by WAEC and whoever that is found wanting will be prosecuted in the law court.” The Commissioner said.

Kogi state, he said, has invested so much in education and will no longer tolerate the attitude of the “bad eggs” drawing back the gains already made in the sector.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Dr. Jibrin Seidu Alhaji, admonished principals and the supervisors to desist from the act, saying their actions are not just robbing the state but destroying the future of the students.

He asked them to have a sober reflection of their actions as posterity will judge everyone according to his or her deeds.

According to him, while some teachers are being called out for awards, it will be wrong for them to be called out for condemnations.

Dr. Jibrin, who described teachers who engaged in examination malpractices as cheats, said it is unfortunate that this is happening when Kogi State is investing so much in education.

He submitted that whoever that is culpable will be severely sanctioned.