Stories by Gabriel Dike
The management of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has warned operators of rogue websites that council would not tolerate interference in the conduct of the May/June 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The council also appealed to secondary schools and parents to warn their wards/students not to patronize the rogue website operators or engage in exam malpractice.
The school exam, which starts on Thursday, April 24 to Friday, June 20, 2025, would be written by 1,973,253 candidates in 23,554 approved public and private secondary schools nationwide.
WAEC Head of National Office (HNO), Dr. Amos Dangut, gave the warning in Lagos while announcing preparation to conduct a hitch-free May/June 2025 WASSCE.
Dangut warned the operators of rogue websites that WAEC would not condone their heinous acts during the conduct of the school examination.
He said: “Parents are hereby cautioned to desist from patronising these evildoers who are hell-bent on frustrating the efforts of WAEC. They should have nothing to do with them, as that would only lead to the destruction of their children’s destiny.”
The HNO revealed that the council would work hand-in-hand with the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) to bring perpetrators to book, adding, “there will be no hiding place for them. I am certain that those who were tracked down and brought to book last year would have chosen to stay out of trouble if they had known how prepared we are for them.”
He warned the candidates and parents not to fall victim because they may not be able to tell the story, noting that the council does not only conduct exams, but it’s also interested in the good performance of the candidates.
On malpractice, thee HNO reminded the schools and candidates that the council would decisively deals with examination malpractice of any kind during the school exam.
According to him, the penalties for involvement in examination malpractice would without compromise, be meted out to erring candidates, supervisors, schools, as would be approved by the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC), which is the highest decision-making organ of the council that sits on examination matters in Nigeria.
“The council, on its part, has rolled out several awareness campaigns and organized seminars for school proprietors, principals, students and other key stakeholders through its branch and zonal offices nationwide to sensitize them on the effects of this evil.
“Similarly, the Council produced sensitization materials such as flyers; banners, posters and other forms of reminders to further keep the message afresh in the minds of all stakeholders, especially candidates sitting the examination,’’ he stated.
He called on parents and guardians to encourage their wards to study diligently and desist from engaging in any form of examination malpractice.
Dangut charged the mass media to continue to partner with the council in its efforts against examination malpractice and that it is our collective responsibility.
“The various state ministries of education are also urged to call upon their principals, teachers and other officials serving as inspectors and/or supervisors to order. School principals and teachers should sensitize their students to the dangers of this terrible crime against humanity.
“Every candidate and examination functionary should familiarize themselves with the rules guiding the conduct of the examination as stipulated in the WAEC syllabus and guidelines for the conduct of examinations, issued to schools,” the HNO stressed.
The WAEC helmsman said erring schools whose candidates engaged in mass cheating will be derecognised; erring officials would be adequately punished, while erring candidates would be sanctioned if found culpable.