‘We’ve flagged the centre’ — NECO speaks on ‘cheating at Kaduna school’

The National Examinations Council (NECO) says it has flagged a school in Kaduna over allegations of promoting malpractice during the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

Azeez Sanni, the council’s spokesman, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.

Signature TV had carried out an eight-month investigation into exams conducted by NECO, during which it uncovered cheating said to have taken place at the Kaduna centre.

In the course of the investigation, some NECO officials were alleged to have connived with individuals to pay for grades or sit for the examination by proxy.

Speaking on the allegation, Sanni said the council had received information from Signature TV of some infractions at one of its examination centres in Kaduna.

According to NAN, he maintained that the council has zero tolerance for examination malpractice, adding that NECO had taken action by flagging the centre and isolating all the candidates’ scripts.

“The Authorities of Signature Television had on Wednesday, 2nd December 2020 alerted the National Examinations Council (NECO) of some infractions at one of the examination centres, Fabian Kings and Queens International School, Kabala West, Kaduna with Centre Number (0140721), that may lead to malpractice during the just concluded 2020 SSCE (Internal),” the statement read.

“Based on the Council’s zero tolerance for examination malpractice, it swung swiftly into action by flagging the centre, identifying and isolating all the candidates’ scripts for scrutiny.

“Following this action, the Council constituted an Administrative Committee to investigate the allegation to enable the Council take appropriate actions.

“If found culpable, the entire results of the candidates will be cancelled, the school will be derecognised and those examination officials involved in the act will be prosecuted in accordance with the Examination Malpractice Decree 33 of 1999.”