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Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, on Thursday, announced that examination certificates would now feature three key identifiers: national identification numbers, candidates’ photos, and birthdates, to ensure the authenticity of results.
Alausa, who described examination malpractice as a growing threat, warned that allowing it to persist would undermine the efforts of diligent students striving to improve themselves.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Committee on Improvement of Quality Examinations in Nigeria in Abuja, the minister said registrars of examination bodies had been ordered to implement this by the next examination periods.
He said, “I’ve mandated all the registrars of our examination bodies, such as WAEC, NECO, and NAPTEB, 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, the 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 also said the government was targeting to transform its examination system to 100 per cent computer-based by 2027.
The minister said, “So, we’re planning that by 2027, all our exams will be computer-based. We will work so hard to ensure that happens. We have to use technology to help our endeavour.
“The committee will also be working on local swapping of candidates.
“There are multiple participants in exam practices, from the student to parents, teachers, principals, to even those regulating and supervising exam conduct.
“During this change, a lot of areas of compromise will happen. There will be people investigating and regulating the exams,” he said.
