The Association of Tutorial School Operators has urged federal and state governments to partner with registered tutorial centres to reduce examination malpractice across Nigeria. The appeal followed the election of the association’s new Ondo State leadership and comes amid public concern over alleged collusion between some tuition operators and exam cheats.
Tutorial centres partnership to tackle examination malpractice
Mr Femi Makinwa, the newly elected Ondo State Governor of the association, told reporters in Akure that registered operators were committed to proper teaching and had no involvement in malpractice. He argued the problem lies with illegal, unregistered outfits that operate outside recognised standards and are often implicated in schemes to undermine public examinations such as the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
“The allegation that we are aiding malpractices in the country is not correct,” Makinwa said. “We impact knowledge, we teach and train students so that they can write examinations and pass, and that is what we stand for.” He added that a formal partnership between government and registered tutorial centres would help identify culpable actors and provide a framework for monitoring and accountability.
The association recommended closer collaboration with examination bodies and education authorities to verify registered centres, share intelligence on irregularities and jointly devise sanctions for those found culpable. Makinwa said such cooperation would also help rebuild public confidence in supplementary education providers and distinguish legitimate centres from criminal operations.
Michael Williams, a former governorship aspirant within the association who stepped down in the interest of unity, urged the Ondo State Government to include the association in policy discussions. He said giving tutorial operators a voice in education policy formulation would strengthen efforts to flush out perpetrators of malpractice and ensure that regulations reflect classroom realities.
“We are a major stakeholder, and we ask the state government to give us a voice to contribute to policies in the sector so that we can all together flush out perpetrators of examination malpractices,” Williams said. He pledged his support for the new leadership and said his withdrawal from the contest was motivated by a desire for consensus and cohesion within the nascent association.
Newly elected members of the Ondo State executive include Mr Samuel Ologun as Deputy Governor, Mr Adeniyi Bankole as General Secretary, Mr Taiwo Moses as Welfare Director, Mr Adama Aliero as Treasurer and Mr Agbo Onwe as Public Relations Officer. Makinwa said his administration would prioritise outreach to government agencies, stakeholder engagement and measures to professionalise tutorial provision.
Education stakeholders welcomed the association’s overture as a constructive step. Analysts say a formal arrangement that distinguishes registered centres, bolsters oversight and integrates operators into policy conversations could reduce malpractice while supporting teacher development and learner outcomes. However, success will depend on clear registration processes, adequate resourcing for enforcement and political will to act on intelligence shared by the sector.
As Nigeria prepares for future public examinations, the association’s call for a tutorial centres partnership highlights a pragmatic approach aimed at protecting the integrity of assessments and the aspirations of candidates who rely on fair testing conditions.
Key Takeaways:
- Association calls for a Tutorial centres partnership with federal and state governments to curb malpractice in SSCE and UTME.
- Ondo State governor of the association, Femi Makinwa, denies registered centres facilitate cheating and blames unregistered outfits.
- New leadership pledges to improve the association’s image and seek a role in education policy formulation.
