The Federal Government has officially banned the admission and transfer of students into Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) as well as into so-called “special centres” across Nigeria.
Announcing the new policy on Monday, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, said the decision is part of efforts to curb widespread examination malpractice in the country. He explained that students who transfer into SS3 or register through unapproved special centres are often involved in organized cheating during external examinations like the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examination Council (NECO) exams.
Prof. Mamman noted that from now on, all students must complete their academic progression from SS1 through SS3 within the same school, and transfers into the final year of secondary school will not be allowed under any circumstances. Additionally, the federal government has ordered the closure and blacklisting of “miracle centres” — centres notorious for aiding examination fraud.
According to the Minister, both public and private schools must comply with the directive, and examination bodies have been instructed to reject registration requests from students or centres that violate these guidelines.
The new policy is expected to take effect immediately, with state ministries of education directed to enforce the ban in their jurisdictions. Education stakeholders have praised the move, saying it will restore integrity to Nigeria’s examination system and promote genuine academic achievement.
The government also warned that any school or official found aiding such practices would face strict sanctions.
