Abah Felicity 
MAKURDI, Nigeria – Wider adoption of computer-based testing (CBT), combined with stronger identity verification and surveillance, could help Nigeria tackle examination malpractice and the activities of so-called “miracle centres”, a West African Examinations Council (WAEC) official has said.
The WAEC official in Makurdi, Timothy Manga, made the recommendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, while discussing concerns over examination malpractice and its impact on the credibility of academic qualifications.
Manga said allegations about the existence of miracle examination centres in Benue State were concerning, although WAEC had not officially identified any school in the state as operating such a centre.
A “miracle centre” is commonly used to describe an examination venue where candidates are allegedly given unauthorised assistance or answers to enable them pass examinations.
Manga said examination malpractice remained a serious threat to the education system because it undermines the value of certificates and rewards candidates for obtaining unauthorised assistance rather than demonstrating knowledge and competence.
He said schools should be judged by the quality of education they provide rather than their ability to help candidates cheat in examinations.
The official said greater use of CBT could give examination bodies more control over examination environments and reduce opportunities for collusion.
However, a school proprietor in Otukpo Local Government Area, Jude Odeh, cautioned against describing schools as miracle centres without evidence.
Odeh said he had heard allegations about miracle centres in Benue but was not aware of any particular school that had been officially identified as operating one.
He also said some parents transfer their children to other schools during the final years of secondary education for various reasons, including the cost of school fees and examination registration.
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Oluwatobi Adu