By Correspondent in Lokoja
Kogi State Governnent will continue monitoring the conduct of examinations to ensure that the vice is nipped in the bud, according to the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Wemi Jones.
Mr Wemi Jones, spotted monitoring 2021 NECO Exam in Lokoja on Monday.
Jones gave assurance on Monday speaking with Journalists after he led a team from the ministry to monitor the conduct of 2021 National Examination Council (NECO) on Monday in Lokoja.
He warned that the State Government would not condone any form of examination malpractice under any disguise in the state.
Jones said:”Examination malpractice, in any form,is a crime and we will not condone it in Kogi State.
“Anybody seen perpetrating examination malpractice or accomplice or involve in it, directly is infringing on our laws, and there are relevant sections of the Kogi State Education Law 2020, that deals with such infringements.
”We are not going to allow anybody to mess up our education system in Kogi State.
”We will not take it lightly with any school, teacher or student seen perpetrating anomalies as far as this examination or subsequent examinations are concerned in Kogi State,” he stessed.
The Commissioner, however,expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the NECO exams in all schools visited, and commended the teachers and students for maintaining examination standards.
According to him, the essence of monitoring the examinations is to be sure that such exercise conducted in an atmosphere that does not encourage cheating, and conducive for students.
”So, I can say that the schools we have visited today, conformed fully with the set guidelines.
”I am very happy to say that all the schools we visited today, fully complied to the rules and regulations of the exams”, he said.
Also Speaking with journalists, Mr Yakubu Godwins, the Principal of Government Day Secondary School Adankolo, Lokoja, commended the Commissioner and his team for the unexpected visit to his school.
”We have started the 2021 NECO Examination in earnest and as you can see, students are well prepared for it, and teachers have gone into the conduct as well. So far, there are no problems.
Godwins, who doubles as the National Secretary of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), said NECO Examination was supposed to come by November but because of COVID-19 Pandemic,the government decided to do it in July.
”In the context of Kogi State, we are grateful to God Almighty that we are seemingly COVID-19 free and it is our pride because His Excellency gave us the courage to fight back.
”Today, COVID-19 is not part of our excuses in Kogi and the teachers and students are very much prepared for the examination,”Godwins said.
Our Correspondent schools visited by the team were: Crowdther Memorial College, Bishop Delisle College, and Government Day Secondary School,all in Lokoja, the state capital, among others.
