Alausa Moves on Exam Malpractice, Warns Parents, Teachers, Schools, says Tinubu’s reforms will restore credibility, protect hardworking students By Beauty Akporido Aroh
The Federal Government has stepped up its campaign against examination malpractice, warning parents, teachers, school proprietors, principals, invigilators and students that the era of compromising public examinations must end.
According to a press release signed by Ikharo Attah, Special Adviser (Media and Communications), on 3rd September 2026, and made available to the press, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, said the government’s measures to strengthen examination integrity were part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s determination to restore standards and reposition Nigeria’s education system.
Alausa issued the warning during a meeting with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) and other education stakeholders, where he described examination malpractice as a deeply entrenched problem that creates an unfair environment for students who prepare honestly.
The Minister said malpractice does more than distort examination results, stressing that it places hardworking students at a disadvantage and weakens public confidence in the qualifications produced by Nigeria’s education system.
He maintained that the responsibility for ending the practice cannot be placed on students alone, as parents, teachers, proprietors, principals and invigilators all have critical roles to play in protecting examination integrity.
Alausa called on stakeholders to strictly observe examination rules, provide conducive learning environments and discourage any practice that gives candidates unauthorised access to examination materials.
He said the Federal Government was strengthening examination administration and introducing measures to make public examinations more secure, with the objective of ensuring that results reflect students’ genuine knowledge, preparation and merit.
The Minister linked the measures to the broader education reforms of the Tinubu administration, saying the government was determined to improve standards, strengthen accountability and rebuild trust in Nigeria’s assessment system.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, also urged private school proprietors and other stakeholders to support the reforms, warning that tighter examination controls could initially expose weaknesses in students’ actual preparation.
She explained that some students who record outstanding performances in internal examinations may have become accustomed to accessing leaked questions before external examinations, leaving them inadequately prepared when such avenues are blocked.
Prof. Ahmad said the introduction of serialised examination questions would make it more difficult for candidates to rely on leaked materials and would reinforce the need for genuine preparation.
She urged schools to complete their curricula on schedule and encourage students to study consistently, assuring private education stakeholders that the Ministry would continue to engage and support them as the reforms are implemented.
According to the Minister of State, the ultimate objective is to restore public examinations as a credible measure of students’ knowledge and abilities, rather than a system vulnerable to manipulation.
Alausa further assured stakeholders that the Federal Government would continue working with private schools, examination bodies and other partners to strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s examination system.
He said the administration would protect the interests of genuine learners and pursue an education system where academic qualifications are earned through knowledge, hard work and merit, rather than examination malpractice.
