Miracle Centres as they are often loosely referred to would seem to the ‘uninitiated’ or to those whose knowledge on the subject is limited to be referring to some form of spiritual home. However, beneath this seemingly benign phrase is a huge underlying discordant inference. There are no miracles involved after all in the circumstance.
Miracle Examination Centres, MECs, are private secondary schools that facilitate exam fraud. They are known for promising students success in their final examinations, regardless of their actual merit. The bottom-line is the ability of the candidates to afford the most times very exorbitant fees.
In Nigeria, the conduct of the Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations is statutorily domiciled in two bodies-the West African Examination Council, WAEC, and National Examinations Council, NECO. The results serve as evidence of completion of secondary school in Nigeria. They are the basics required to qualify for some employment opportunities and contest certain political offices. They are also needed to secure admission into higher education institutions locally and abroad.
It is therefore, not surprising that a high premium is placed on success in these exams. With that background, not a few candidates use illegal and unethical means to scale through the exams. They are aided in this by the so-called “miracle examination centres” special secondary schools or private entities that encourage such malpractices. These centres have established racketeering in the school certificate examinations and it is sadly perceived in many circles as normal.
Notwithstanding efforts by government and examination bodies to clamp down on them, they continue to thrive and enjoy the patronage of people from different classes of society.
It is believed many parents who naturally should be viewed as being ‘above the belt’ by learning and morality are found compromising and allowing the the trend to thrive as their children and wards patronize these centres.
It is worrisome that our education sector has been listed among the five most corrupt sectors in the country, even as practices by these centres cast doubt on the quality of students admitted into tertiary institutions, the quality of the workforce and that of political leaders.
Worried by the proliferation of such centres, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, noted in a recent television appearance that the Federal Government, FG, is determined to sanitise the nation’s educational system and the first place to start is the menace posed by the centres.
“We have problem with examination malpractice which we are addressing frontally as a government”, he said as a guest on prime television network.
It is therefore, noteworthy that the Federal Ministry of Education soon after announced that a nationwide monitoring and evaluation campaign aimed at eradicating ‘miracle centres’ schools that facilitate exam malpractice has begun.
During an on-the-spot assessment visit to Redeemer Teap International School in Abuja recently, Team Lead, Rukayat Ibrahim emphasised that the initiative seeks to ensure that schools adhere to ethical examination practices.
More needs to be done. Beyond the FG efforts, there must be complementary efforts by states and local governments to ensure that MECs are checked.
AljazirahNigeria is averse to cheating during exams as it is a disservice to others who work genuinely hard to earn good grades and indeed a dent on the integrity and quality of our education system.
It is indeed reinforcing and commendable the move by the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti who ordered the closure of several places used for examination malpractices, code-named MECs across the state.
Other states should follow suit to ensure that some level of sanity returns to the system.
We advocate for a national task force with zonal offices across the six geo-political zones to check exam malpractices and to also clampdown on so-called EMCs with a view to fostering credibility in the system.
It is also imperative that providers of education at all levels, be they private or public offer quality, conducive environment for learning seamlessly for all with a level playing ground.
