The tutorial schools operators in Ondo State, under the auspices of the Association of Tutorial Schools Operators, Ondo State Chapter have expressed readiness to collaborate with the government and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board to eradicate examination malpractice in the country.

The association also expressed displeasure over the involvement of some operators in the scourge , saying it would ensure that its members did not involve in such act of malpractice.

The head of the association, Mr Bankole Fisayo, who spoke while in a rally organised by the association , stated that their mission was to change the orientation in some section of the public as regards their involvement in examination malpractice.

He said, “There is no doubt about it that many people who operate tutorial schools are into examination malpractice but there are some of us with distinct records that believe so much in imparting on students and we are getting value for it.

“We have lots of lesson owners who engaged in examination malpractice but those of us who are operators of tutorial schools don’t get involved in such.

“If truly government wants to eradicate examination malpractice in Nigeria, it must learn to celebrate excellence. Once the government can collaborate with us and we exchanged ideas, I can assure you that examination malpractice will be a thing of the past in the country.

“Truly, we have many coaching centre operators but those that belong to our association are not involved in examination malpractice. If you look at the statistics, throughout last year JAMB nobody was arrested in Ondo State. Among those arrested were parents, university professor, CBT owners, and JAMB officials. No single tutorial operator was arrested.”

While appealing to JAMB to always ensure a hitch-free examination , Fisayo explained some of the glitches that were being recorded during examination did have adverse effects on the pupils.

“According to statistics, pupils that wrote JAMB this year were about 1.9 million as stated by the JAMB Registrar but what is the provision for admission for these students. At the end of the day, they will admit 250,000 to 300,000 while about 1.5 million will still be looking for admission. So, I think JAMB Registrar needs to look into that and look critically into it.

“One of the areas JAMB needs to also look into is the issue of computers shutting down during examinations. When this occurs students are always distracted and destabilized. They need to work on it and endure that every apparatus towards JAMB examination are intact. The money they are getting from these students, instead of diverting everything to the Federal Government’s pulse, they can use the little amount from it to put up good CBT centres and assist CBT owners,” he advised.

The chairman also hinted that the tutorial school operators in the state are set to celebrate excellence among students stressing that “government has not been doing it. We are doing it to assist government but the government needs to know that it is important to recognize and celebrate excellence among pupils.”

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During the rally, members of the association moved to the palace of the Deji of Akure  and solicited his support for the association in its drive towards rewarding excellence among in the state and its commitment to combating examination malpractice.

In his remarks , the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi who commended the operators for their role in moulding the pupils, pending their admission into tertiary institutions assured them of his support in their quests.