By Modupe Adegboro.
The Kogi state government has warned teachers in the state not to get involved in any form of examination malpractice as the long arm of the law will catch up with perpetrators.
The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, gave the warning at a two-day capacity building training for teachers in Lokoja.
The training which was aimed at ‘Promoting Teaching Excellence and Achievement in Nigeria’ (ProTEAN), was organised by the United States Embassy, Abuja through the Teaching Excellence and Achievement Exchange Program Alumni, Nigeria.
”Let me advise you, it has become a criminal offence for any teacher or any school to be engaged or involved in any form of examination malpractice.
”Let us know where we are as a state – do not aid, abate or be involved in examination malpractice in your schools. Examination malpractice is prohibited for us in Kogi State
”As teachers, principals or whoever, we are getting to a point where anybody who is caught in examination malpractice will severely face the law.
”Please, do not because of little pecuniary gains get yourselves involved in examination malpractice; it is a crime and the state will not condone it.
”I am begging you now, so that you will not come and beg later,” he said.
He congratulated the teachers for the recent notable positive changes in the education sector of the state and assured them of improved welfare as education remained the focus of Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration.
He thanked the organiser of the workshop, saying the programme was enriching and would galvanize the teachers to be more strategic on their jobs.
Speaking, Hajia Khadijat Abubakar Isa, the Kogi State focal person for ProTEAN said the training would be carried out in all the 36 states of the federation, noting that 15 states had so far benefitted from the training program in Nigeria.
Speaking on purpose of the training she said, ‘teachers will be well informed of the latest techniques in teaching and be redefined in their concepts, opinions and perceptions about the teaching profession.”
One of the facilitators, Princess Ugbonma Akanu, said the training was to actualise the best practices in schools using the best methods.
”We expect the teachers to become better teachers and for their teaching to count. They should know that teaching has to be student centered and not teacher centered any longer,” Akanu said.
A participant, Mrs Mary Ojuma from Crowdther Memorial College, Lokoja, said the training was an eye opener in spite their earlier experience and knowledge in the teaching profession.
”We have discovered through the training that there is a new approach and more practical ways of teaching our children and preparing them for today and tomorrow,” she said.
