Dr Olubukola Dosunmu, an educationist says the preponderance of malpractice in external examinations in secondary schools, is killing the morale of honest, innocent students.
Dosunmu, the Director of Toddlers Haven and Everest Heights International Academy said the sad development is making it difficult for children to write examinations on their own.
Speaking at the 17th Annual Graduation and Award Ceremony of the school on Saturday in Abuja, Dosunmu said the proposed transition of the examinations to full Computer-Based Testing (CBT) would nip the menace in the bud.
The Federal Government recently directed that both West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) examinations transit to CBT from November 2025.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the transition is part of a broader effort to modernise Nigeria’s education system, enhance exam security, and improve the overall examination process.
“The honest truth is we need to take very drastic actions and steps to be able to deal with the problem of exams malpractice in Nigeria.
“So, in my own opinion, if only this CBT exams could work, it would be good for Nigeria.
“But we know there are quite a lot of hurdles across availability of centres, location of centres.
“That’s is why the committee that worked with the Ministry of Education on it, said they are planning see how it can probably work in phases, ” she said.
Dosunmu appealed to the federal government to digitise the examinations in phases so as to get the children back to being honest with their examinations.
Speaking on concerns of out-of-school children, she also voiced support for federal government’s plans to absorb out-of-school children into low-income private schools.
She explained that doing this would ease the national education burden and uplift marginalised communities.
“We are aware that this is going on. They’re already collecting data from low-income private schools, and they are putting together guidelines in which it’s going to work,” she said.
She also called for a total reform in the education system, commencing from primary school, for a holistic child development.
The Acting Vice Chancellor, Yakubu Gowon University (formally University of Abuja), Prof. Patricia Lar, congratulated the graduating students, describing the event as a gateway to new opportunities.
Lar, represented by the university librarian, Prof. Ebele Anyaoku, praised the students’ resilience and extended best wishes as they enter new chapters of their lives.
The Guest Speaker, an educationist, Mrs Loretta Nkemdilim, challenged societal attitudes toward grading, parenting, and child development.
She criticised the typical reaction in many Nigerian homes, where children return home with report cards only to face judgment, comparison, and ridicule regardless of performance.
“Grades are not a final judgment. They are a compass, pointing out strengths and weaknesses and not the total definition of who a child is.
“Whether a child comes first or last, they are often greeted with tension, not encouragement.
“We must stop making our children feel they are only worthy when they are perfect,” she stressed.
NAN reports the event saw the graduation of 109 students spanning from Primary Six to Junior and Senior Secondary levels and the recognition of Staff Excellence Award.
Highlight of the event was the recognition of Tehila Isimah, who was awarded a ₦7.5 million scholarship after emerging top in the 2024 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition. (NAN)
