An investigation by Exam Ethics Marshals International has said 67 per cent of private and public secondary schools function as ‘exam magic centres,’ where exam malpractices thrive.

The founding chairman of EEMI, Ike Onyechere, disclosed the findings at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja, focusing on ‘Combating the dangers of illegal levies in schools: The role of parents.’

The conference aimed to raise awareness among parents about the prevalence of illegal levies in schools and to mobilise support for enforcing the government’s ban on such practices.

Mr Onyechere explained that many ‘magic centres’ lack the necessary infrastructure and resources to operate as legitimate schools or exam centres but manage to secure accreditation.

He said, “These centres tend to have small class sizes in earlier years JS1 to SS2 but large populations in exit-year classes SS3, where they generate fake continuous assessment scores.’’

He pointed out that these centres were often chaotic during exams, with students, supervisors, and invigilators colluding to cheat.

He stated, “Parents are charged exorbitant fees, sometimes in the hundreds of thousands, for the illicit services provided by these centres, which are shared among members of the syndicates running them.”

Mr Onyechere called on parents to stop paying such illegal fees, emphasising that they were contributing to the destruction of their children’s future.

He urged stakeholders, including those facilitating or collecting illegal levies, to help restore the integrity of the education system by supporting the enforcement of the ban.

He stressed that curbing examination malpractices was crucial for solving broader societal issues. 

(NAN)