The Anambra State Government has cautioned principals of public secondary schools to uphold discipline and maintain proper examination standards or risk being removed from office.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ekene Ogugua, issued the warning during an unannounced inspection of the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations at Igwebuike Grammar School, Awka, and Community Secondary School, Okpuno.
The visit was aimed at assessing compliance with examination guidelines and ensuring that schools adhere to acceptable standards.
At Igwebuike Grammar School, the commissioner expressed dissatisfaction with the level of discipline in the school, noting that many students were seen roaming the premises instead of preparing for their examinations. He also criticized the school management for what he described as a lack of effective control.
According to him, the atmosphere within the school was not conducive for examinations, stressing that principals who fail to align with the state government’s vision for quality education would be relieved of their responsibilities.
Dr. Ogugua also frowned at the poor condition of the examination hall, describing it as untidy and below the standard expected for external examinations. He urged students to cultivate good sanitation habits, noting that a clean learning environment reflects discipline and responsibility.
During the inspection at Community Secondary School, Okpuno, the commissioner observed that the scheduled NECO examination had not started on time because supervisors arrived late. He also noticed several students outside the school premises.
Responding to the observation, the school’s principal, Mrs. Osigwe, explained that the students outside were Junior Secondary School (JSS) pupils who had completed one examination paper and were waiting for the next session.
She appealed to the state government to provide additional classroom blocks, explaining that the school’s enrolment had increased significantly following the introduction of the state’s free education policy. She added that Community Secondary School remains the only public secondary school serving the area.
The commissioner said the monitoring exercise forms part of the government’s efforts to eliminate examination malpractice and preserve the credibility of public schools.
He reiterated that the government would not allow public schools to become centres for examination malpractice, emphasizing that such practices threaten the future of students and undermine the integrity of the education system.
Dr. Ogugua further disclosed that the Ministry of Education would continue conducting surprise inspections during both internal and external examinations to ensure compliance with examination regulations and improve accountability across schools in the States.
