Winifred Bosa, Lagos

In effect , the total fine would amount to N13.5 million

This decision was contained in a statement was signed by the spokesman for the Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) of the state’s ministry of education., Emmanuel Olaniran.

According to the statement,   the decision followed a report by the regional examination body which indicted the concerned private secondary schools.According to Mr Olaniran, WAEC officials, who monitored the conduct of the examination across the state, found the schools guilty and forwarded the list to the state government.

Meanwhile, following the indictment by the examination body, the state said it further carried out an investigation to ascertain the authenticity of the allegations.

“In another investigative panel led by the Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) Mrs Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, 27 schools indicted by the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) for general examination malpractice were fined up to N500,000 that is payable to the state government’s coffers following the conclusion of the investigations.”

The fine, Mrs Seriki-Ayeni noted, is to serve as a deterrence to offenders, adding that the decisions of the investigative panel of enquiry are corrective measures “and that recalcitrant offenders can have their approval totally withdrawn and school deregistered.”

“All indicted schools are to repeat the Whole School Evaluation (WSE) and Subject Recognition Inspection (SRI) process with OEQA within the 2 years of ‘derecognition’ period as mandated by WAEC,” the statement added.

By implication, the affected schools will not take part in the senior school certificate examinations conducted by WAEC for the next two years.

“Mrs Seriki-Ayeni urged owners of schools to ascertain that their students are adequately prepared for external examinations to avoid any form of examination malpractice… The Lagos State Government has zero tolerance for examination malpractice and any form of social vices. Therefore, all school administrators must see to it that their students are self-confident, rooted and well-groomed academically,” the statement added.

The government urged the affected school owners and the general public to continue to adhere to government policies and regulations especially concerning the conduct of examinations in the state “to avoid being found on the wrong side of the law because ignorance is not an excuse as integrity is non-negotiable.”