JAMB and FG Declare War on Miracle Centres: Schools, CBT Centres to Be Derecognized for Exam Malpractice
In a bold and decisive move to curb the rising tide of examination malpractice in Nigeria’s education sector, the Federal Government has issued a sweeping directive targeting so-called “miracle centres” — schools and examination centres notorious for aiding students in cheating during external examinations.
On Tuesday, May 27, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, issued a stern directive to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), mandating the immediate derecognition of any school or Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre found guilty of aiding or facilitating any form of examination malpractice.
This directive, tagged JAMB/R/264A/VOL.4/1, represents a renewed federal government effort to restore sanity and credibility to the Nigerian education system — especially at the secondary school level where cheating has become a systemic crisis.
Miracle Centres: The Crippling Threat to Nigerian Education
For years, miracle centres have plagued Nigeria’s examination system. These are often schools or specially arranged venues that guarantee students will pass their external examinations — not by merit or preparation — but by engaging in organized cheating. This includes leaking exam questions, hiring impersonators, and openly allowing malpractice during the exam period.
The term "miracle centre" has become infamous across Nigeria, especially among students preparing for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), NECO exams, NABTEB assessments, and even the highly competitive Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by JAMB.
Recognizing the damaging long-term impact of these centres, Dr. Tunji Alausa’s directive marks a critical shift in the fight against examination fraud.
New Federal Directive: Derecognition and Sanctions for Schools and CBT Centres
According to the official memo from the Ministry of Education, any secondary school or CBT centre found guilty of enabling examination malpractice — whether during WAEC, NECO, NABTEB or JAMB exams — will face immediate derecognition.
“Any school/CBT centre involved in examination malpractice and/or acting as a miracle centre should be derecognised for several years. The duration will be determined by the examination body,” said Dr. Tunji Alausa.
This means that such schools and centres will no longer be allowed to host or participate in national examinations, effectively shutting down their role in external assessments for years.
Unified Sanctions Across WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, and JAMB
In a further step to ensure these sanctions have real consequences, JAMB’s Public Communications Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, revealed that all examination bodies have been instructed to collaborate and adopt uniform punishment against offending institutions.
“If any school/CBT centre is derecognised by any examination body, other sister examination bodies should follow suit and derecognise the same school/CBT centre for the same number of years to run concurrently,” Dr. Benjamin stated.
This cross-agency collaboration means that schools or CBT centres caught and penalized by one body — say WAEC — will also face equivalent punishment from NECO, NABTEB, and JAMB.
“This will send a very strong signal to operators of these miracle centres,” Dr. Benjamin added.
Students Also to Face Severe Penalties: 3-Year Ban on External Exams
It’s not just schools and centres that are being targeted. The Ministry of Education also confirmed that students caught engaging in examination malpractice will face a three-year ban from participating in any external examination in Nigeria.
“Student(s) involved in examination malpractice should be barred from sitting for any external examinations in Nigeria such as those conducted by WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, etc, for three years using the instrumentality of NIN,” Dr. Benjamin warned.
By using students’ National Identification Number (NIN), exam bodies will be able to track and enforce bans across all platforms, ensuring that culpable candidates cannot simply register under a different name or centre.
Legal Backing: Examination Malpractices Act in Full Force
The new directive is backed by the Examination Malpractices Act, which empowers examination bodies to share information on malpractice offenders across different agencies and institutions.
According to Section 16(2) of the Act:
“An examination body may, in the exercise of its powers under this section, circulate the name of an offending candidate, supervisor, invigilator, official, school, or examination centre to other examination bodies, which may impose similar punishment.”
This provision ensures that once a candidate or institution is caught and blacklisted, they face a united front from all national exam bodies — creating a powerful deterrent.
What This Means for Schools, Students, and Parents
This federal directive has far-reaching implications. For schools and private CBT centres, this means the era of impunity is over. If they are found guilty of aiding malpractice — even once — they risk losing their ability to operate for several years.
For students, the consequences are personal and long-lasting. A three-year ban from all national exams could derail university admission and future career plans.
And for parents, the message is clear: Don’t patronize miracle centres or try to "help" your children cheat. The short-term gain of a high score obtained dishonestly now comes with severe long-term punishment.
Government's Strategy to Restore Integrity in Education
This renewed crackdown is part of a broader national strategy to restore integrity and meritocracy in the Nigerian education system. Over the years, the value of certifications and qualifications in Nigeria has dropped significantly, largely due to the perception that many results are not credible.
By targeting miracle centres and their collaborators, the Federal Government hopes to:
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Improve the credibility of Nigerian certificates
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Encourage hard work and academic honesty among students
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Discourage private exam fraud networks
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Promote fairness and level playing fields for university admissions
Conclusion: A New Era of Accountability in Nigeria’s Exam System
The decision by the Federal Ministry of Education and JAMB to crack down on miracle centres is a welcome development in Nigeria’s battle against academic fraud.
The derecognition of schools and CBT centres, three-year student bans, and cross-agency cooperation send a clear message: examination malpractice will no longer be tolerated.
As this directive begins to take effect, schools must reform or risk exclusion. Students must embrace honesty or face expulsion from the system. And parents must understand that success at any cost is no longer acceptable in modern Nigeria.
At NaijaRush, we believe this is the right step toward restoring excellence in education — a sector that remains the cornerstone of national development.
