Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun, CFR, Alli Okunmade II, gave the charge when the new South-West Zonal Director of the examination body, Mrs. Deborah Fukop, paid a courtesy visit at his Alarere residence.
Mrs Fukop led the NECO zonal management team on the visit to announce her new posting and to seek for collaboration with the traditional institution towards enhancing the body’s operational efficiency in the zone.
The NECO Zonal Director, while acknowledging the observation, however put the blame of examination malpractices at the doorsteps of the supervisors, rather than the Council.
Oba Balogun noted in a release by his Personal Assistant (Media), Oladele Ogunsola, that it is imperative for NECO, as the gate-keepers for the higher institutions across the country, to wage war against the vice.
“The future of this country is in your hand in that whatever you turn out as finished products through our national examination, the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE), is what our tertiary institutions must, as a compulsion, admit because they must admit students if they don’t want to close down.
“You owe it a duty to give us the best for the sake of our future. The news we normally hear about the conduct of your examinations is not at all cheering. Yet, it is compulsory that our children pass through you.
“One cannot but acknowledge the efforts being made to tackle the menace by way of sanctioning schools and some individuals involved. We want you to do more because of our future,” Olubadan further stated.
Reacting, the NECO Zonal Director, thanked Olubadan for the frank and sincere talk, but absolved the Council of any blame in cases of examination malpractices.
Mrs Fukop said: “As much as the observation by the monarch could not be dismissed, the problem of examination malpractices was largely that of the supervisors, who are teachers. They are the ones that compromise on integrity and not the Council.
“We are conscious of our revered father’s observation and we are not folding arms because of the importance and strategic position we find ourselves.
“We cannot afford to fail the country, but our royal father would agree with me that we only conduct examinations while our supervisors, who are teachers, are responsible for the execution.
“There are enough mechanisms in place to check malpractices before, during and after the examinations. But, if and when those saddled with the responsibility at any of the stages compromise the system, we become helpless.
“Nevertheless, we are up and doing as we give sanctions to schools and individuals found culpable as remarked by Your Imperial Majesty.”
The NECO Zonal Director called for collaboration of all the stakeholders with the examination body.
She maintained that everybody must be conscious of the need for integrity and to come to the realisation that whatever is done to compromise the examination system is a crime against the country.
She thanked the Olubadan for the opportunity given to pay the visit, his admonition and his readiness to support the zone to achieve success.
Mrs Fukop also pledged to put up her best by upholding the core values of the examination body towards the realisation of the vision and mission of the body.
Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun CFR, Alli Okunmade II, with the South-West Zonal Director of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Mrs Deborah Fukop, during her visit to the Alarere residence of the traditional ruler.
