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The Exam Ethics Project (EEP), an NGO fighting against examination malpractices, has in the last few years released figures either as profit made from examination malpractice business or those (students, invigilators etc) sacked for engaging in examination malpractice.

In line with the second MDG of achieving universal primary education by ensuring that all girls and boys complete a full course of primary schooling, moral values and ethics need to be inducted in the education system aside practical skills. Though some people have argued that corruption is as old as mankind, it is mankind that can avert the situation through structuring curricular whose aim should be producing morally upright citizens who abhor corruption.

Exam Ethics Project has declared Benue State as the highest in national Examination Malpractices Index (EMI), ranking for the year 2005. Federal Capital Territory emerged as the most exam ethics-friendly state with the lowest EMI of 0.43, while Benue State had an EMI of 18.87. The report for 2005 Exam Year indicates that the EMI for all the regions was 6.9 against 16.9 for 2004. This means that examination fraud reduced by 59 per cent between 2004 and 2005.

In the past, teachers were heroes and their profession was highly respected. But over the years, things have changed and the profession has become the last career resort for many students. The nation needs to go back to the drawing board in the training and recruitment of teachers, putting emphasis on ethics and professionalism.

The Niger State Governor has called on the Teachers' Registration Council to go beyond the registration of qualified teachers and enforce basic ethics for teachers, as is being done in other professions. A representative of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) also stated teaching could only be a respected profession if there is standard ethics.

The second university ethics and good governance movement summit has kicked off yesterday in Jimma University. Federal ethics and anti-corruption commission Head said universities should pay equal attention to producing ethical graduates as much as training competent ones. The Head added major construction projects at universities, bids on purchases, student canteen services, etc. should be based on accountability and transparency.

The Teachers Service Commission is putting in place water-tight measures to enforce performance by teachers and ensure they do not violate professional code of ethics. TSC chairman said teachers will be made to sign the teachers’ code of ethics. The teachers will be required to meet specific targets to ensure they perform to expectations.