A syndicate engaged in manipulating results for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) has been uncovered, as revealed by DEBORAH TOLU-KOLAWOLE. Desperation to secure admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions drives candidates, parents, and guardians to seek illicit means to upgrade their scores.
The pressure to secure high marks in these exams has led to severe cases of malpractice, including impersonation, forgery, and result manipulation. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) have battled these issues, but fraudulent tactics continue to emerge.
These methods often involve impersonators sitting for exams on behalf of candidates or manipulating results through illicit means. Recently, JAMB exposed an individual falsely claiming to be the top scorer in the UTME, using a fabricated result to support the claim. Another individual, who attempted to gain recognition based on a high score, was also exposed as having never registered or taken the exam.
Various criminals and syndicates offer result manipulation services on platforms like Facebook. Posing as candidates or their guardians, the correspondent engaged with several of these individuals to understand their methods and fees. They typically use tools like Adobe Photoshop to manipulate scanned original results, creating faked high scores. Although such alterations don’t affect the actual results, they can mislead candidates.
While some criminals focus on upgrading UTME scores, others target WASSCE results. Some even offer mobile applications, like “JambFun-Fake Jamb Result Maker,” which generates counterfeit results, mimicking the authentic ones from official sources. However, WAEC officials have stated that these manipulations are futile, as their certificates contain barcodes for verification.
Experts call for vigilance and ethical guidance in the education system. Universities, colleges, and parents must be diligent in granting admissions and guiding students. The prevalence of result manipulation indicates the need for comprehensive reform and a focus on promoting hard work and integrity among students.
In conclusion, the discovery of syndicates exploiting desperate candidates highlights the pervasive nature of exam result manipulation in Nigeria, driven by the intense competition for limited spots in tertiary institutions. Efforts to curtail these practices need to be continually reinforced to maintain the integrity of the education system.