The fight against examination fraud gets a digital weapon as WAEC insider says computer-based testing is the silver bullet.
A senior official of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has sounded the alarm on Nigeria’s infamous “miracle centres,” insisting that strict computer-based testing (CBT) is the most effective way to stamp out organised examination malpractice.
Timothy Manga, a WAEC official based in the Makurdi office, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), as concerns mount over the credibility of public examinations and the integrity of educational certificates.
While Manga acknowledged that no “miracle centre” had been officially confirmed in Benue State, he described the mere allegations as “worrisome” and a direct threat to the education system.
In the Nigerian context, a “miracle centre” refers to an examination hub where candidates are systematically aided to cheat—often with the collusion of school authorities—enabling them to obtain answers illegitimately during WAEC or NECO exams.
“Any system that rewards students for cheating undermines those who have worked hard to prepare for examinations,” Manga stated. “We need an examination system where success is determined by knowledge, preparation, and competence—not by the ability to access assistance during examinations.”
Though WAEC currently has no confirmed list of such centres in Benue, Manga assured that the council remains vigilant. “We would continue to put our ears to the ground in case we hear of any that we can set an example with,” he added.
Echoing his sentiment, Mrs. Rebecca Ezekiel, a teacher at NKST Secondary School, Makurdi, advocated for the establishment of independent examination centres. She argued that such centres would reduce the influence of schools and teachers over the examination process, giving WAEC and NECO greater control over venues, personnel, and security.
“Candidates should be examined under conditions that are independent of the schools where they receive instruction,” Ezekiel said, also recommending biometric verification and CCTV surveillance to strengthen monitoring.
However, not everyone is convinced that allegations of “miracle centres” are always justified. Mr. Jude Odeh, a school proprietor in Otukpo Local Government Area, cautioned against labelling schools simply because they admit final-year students.
Odeh noted that while he had heard allegations, he was yet to identify any specific school operating as a miracle centre. He argued that some parents transfer their children for legitimate reasons—including high examination registration fees, school fees, and other financial pressures.
“Some schools charge examination fees arbitrarily, and when combined with school fees, the total cost becomes too high for some parents to bear,” Odeh explained. He added that he personally knows schools in Benue that do not admit new students into SS3, registering only those promoted from SS2 for external exams.
As the debate intensifies, the call for CBT grows louder—with many believing it is the only way to restore public trust in Nigeria’s examination system.
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Tags
· WAEC
· Miracle centres
· Examination malpractice
· Computer-Based Testing
· CBT Nigeria
· WAEC official
· Benue State news
· NECO
· Examination fraud
· Nigerian education system
· Timothy Manga
· West African Examinations Council
· Education reform Nigeria
· Exam cheating
· School proprietors
