Exam Ethics International has decried the deployment of uniformed personnel for the conduct of public examinations as a “dangerous trend that undermines the growth of education in the country”.

The Chairman, Exam Ethics International, Mr Ike Onyechere, told news in Abuja that the agency was in support of a recent decision by the Edo State Government to disallow the use of uniformed officers to supervise the ongoing NECO examinations.

“We are fully in support of Edo State Governemnt’s decision on the issue,” he said.

Our correspondent  reports that the Edo State Ministry of Education had on June 17 disallowed the use of officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as supervisors for the NECO examinations.

In its reaction to the decision on June 20, NECO’s governing board suspended the conduct of the examinations in Edo, alleging some irregularities.

It also accused the state govrnment of trying to usurp its powers in the conduct of examinations.

The face-off was, however, later resolved at a meeting between officials of National Examination Council (NECO) and the state government, resulting in the lifting of the suspension on the conduct of the examinations.

Onyechere said: “It is a standard operating procedure all over the world that uniformed military personnel are not allowed into examination halls that involve civilians.

“Even when candidates for such examinations are uniformed personnel, they must enter the hall in mufti.

“It is a global convention in view of the fact that other candidates are usually distracted and intimidated by the presence of uniformed officers in examination halls. It dramatically increases the anxiety level of the candidates.’’

He explained that military or paramilitary officers are, by the nature of their training, temperament and command structure, not suited for the role of supervision and invigilation of civilian examinations.

Onyechere said the decision by NECO to suspend its examinations in Edo State was a “cheap blackmail’’ and wrong decision that had dire consequences.

He said NECO did not have the capacity and human resources to organise its examinations without the support and collaboration of state governments.

“With less than 2,000 personnel, NECO cannot possibly supervise and invigilate examinations in more than 10,000 secondary schools across the country.

“It needs the support of state governments in the provision of exam halls, facilities and human resources,’’ he added.

Onyechere urged the Federal Government to confirm if the use of civil defence officials in the conduct of examinations was now an established policy.

He said it was important to know if the NSCDC now had the full responsibility of monitoring and supervising examinations, and the extent it could be held responsible for any operational lapses when they occurred.

“These and many more are some of the questions that need to be answered before a major decision that affects the future of children can be taken.

“The attempt by NECO to paint Edo State Government as a supporter of exam fraud is very unfortunate.

“We wish to state without fear of contradiction that Governor Adams Oshiomhole is one of the most ethics-friendly governors in Nigeria.

“He is one of the few governors who have taken serious action to sanitise the education sector,’’ he added.