Government Cracks Down on Exam Cheats: Schools and Centres Face Derecognition, Students Risk 3-Year Ban

In a determined move to stamp out academic dishonesty and bring an end to so-called ‘miracle’ exam centres, the Federal Ministry of Education has swung the axe. Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, has instructed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to withdraw recognition from any school or Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre found guilty of encouraging or participating in examination fraud. The announcement came via an official memo dated Tuesday, May 27.

Under this stern directive, schools and centres found engaging in malpractice won’t just be given a slap on the wrist—they’ll be sidelined for multiple years, with the precise period determined by the examination board involved. Additionally, students caught in the act won’t escape lightly either. A three-year ban awaits any candidate found guilty of cheating during exams organized by national examination bodies like WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB.

Fabian Benjamin, who speaks on behalf of JAMB, added that the repercussions won’t end with one body. If a centre or school is blacklisted by any one examination authority, all other exam boards will follow suit, enforcing the same duration of exclusion. The idea is to make cheating not just risky, but utterly unprofitable.

The directive also calls for the use of the National Identification Number (NIN) system to enforce these bans, ensuring that offenders cannot simply switch names or locations to sidestep punishment. In other words, there’s no hiding behind paperwork anymore.

This toughened approach aligns with the Examination Malpractices Act, specifically Section 16(2), which allows examination bodies to share the names of offenders—whether they’re students, supervisors, officials, or even entire institutions—with other bodies, who may then impose similar penalties.

The government believes these measures will send a strong message not only to schools and centres hoping to cut corners, but also to students and their parents. Academic dishonesty is no longer a game with minor consequences—it’s a serious offense with lasting repercussions.