The Oyo State government, on Tuesday, said it may start enforcing the Examination Malpractice Act, as enshrined in the 1999 Federal Constitution.
The Act stipulates a three years’ jail term or fine of N100, 000 or both for anyone caught and found guilty of compromising exam ethics in the country.
Speaking in Ibadan, with journalists, the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Post-Primary Teaching Service Commission, TESCOM, Pastor Akinade Alamu said the State Government has so far adopted administrative measures in addressing examination malpractices in the State.
He declared that with the present administration’s policy on education, the war against examination malpractice is being won.
Recall that earlier in the year, the Oyo State Government suspended teachers on the premise of examination malpractices during the West African Senior School Certificate Examination.
Pastor Alamu, who expressed joy over support by the Nigeria Union of Teachers and other teaching bodies, emphasized that the state government would not hesitate to ensure that the laws guiding the conduct of public exams in the country takes its full course.
Alamu, who said examination malpractice had reduced significantly since the Seyi Makinde administration came on board, added that the government aims at the total elimination of exam malpractice in the state.
Speaking on granting the erring teachers pardon, Pastor Alamu said the Oyo State Government has received appeals from Traditional rulers, as well as stakeholders in the Education sector.
He however said the Oyo State Government has not taken final decision on whether to pardon the erring teachers.
“We have received appeals from Traditional rulers and the Nigeria Union of Teachers. But we have very high regard for NUT, a very noble union of professionals. We respect the leadership of NUT and its members; NUT is a union that gave maximum cooperation to Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, since its inception”, he said.
Pastor Alamu berated past administrations in the State for taking issues of examination malpractices with levity, adding that the Seyi Makinde administration has taken the bull by the horn.
“When we came on board, we decided that this problem should be nipped in the bud and we started sanctioning the erring teachers and principals. So we have done it for 2-3years now, suspending teachers that were involved and we want you to understand that examination malpractice is criminal”.
“At the end we took administrative steps to address the issues and when we did it, there had been appeals and pleadings from various quarters”, he said.
We respect Nigerian Teachers and they are very good partners of TESCOM and Oyo State Government, we have seen that NUT has been a very responsible Trade Union, with this we may consider their request to pardon the teachers.