The Executive Chairman, Oyo State Post-Primary Teaching Service Commission, Akinade Alamu, on Tuesday, said the state government might start enforcing the examination malpractice Act, as enshrined in the Nigerian 1999 Constitution.
The PUNCH had reported that the government suspended some teachers on the premise of examination malpractices during the West African Senior School Certificate Examination earlier this year.
Alamu, who stated this during an interview with journalists in Ibadan, the state capital, said the Act stipulated a three year jail term or fine of N100,000 or both for anyone caught and found guilty of compromising exam ethics in the country.
He said the government had so far adopted administrative measures in addressing examination malpractices in the state, insisting that the government would not hesitate to ensure that the laws guiding the conduct of public exams in the country takes its full course in the state.
On the erring teachers, the chairman stated that the government had not taken final decision on whether to pardon them or not.
Alamu said, “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.
“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 two to three years 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.”
