Enugu Catholic Dioceses Declare War on Exam Malpractice


THE MASSES ADVOCATE 
Enugu Catholic Dioceses Declare War on Exam Fraud, Threaten Suspension for Erring Priests and Religious 

 -By Ruben Mario Brodrick 


 *Enugu, Nigeria – June 6, 2025 –* In a decisive move to combat rampant examination malpractice, the Catholic Church in Enugu State has issued a stern warning: any Catholic priest, religious leader, or church worker found to be overtly or tacitly supporting exam irregularities risks severe sanctions, including the loss of their faculty to operate within the dioceses.

The declaration, articulated by Most Rev. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, speaking to Vanguard in Owerri, underscores the Church's commitment to reforming Nigeria's beleaguered education sector. Bishop Onah emphasized the Church's role in societal betterment, stating, "We cannot all complain that things are bad while we ourselves are doing evil things."

The strong stance comes as a direct response to what the Catholic Bishops of the Dioceses in Enugu State describe as "the level of impunity with which various forms of examination irregularity are being perpetrated in our schools today." A communique from the Enugu Catholic Bishops, quoted by Bishop Onah, leaves no room for ambiguity:

 "We have zero tolerance for any form of examination irregularity and will do everything within our reach to eradicate that evil from all our schools."
Parents Implicated, Students Face Immediate Dismissal
Shockingly, the communique highlights parents and guardians as significant enablers of this "evil," noting they are often "the main sources of the financial support with which this evil is successfully executed." The Bishops cautioned parents that such involvement "negates the very essence of parenthood, as well as endangers and mars the future of their children or wards."
To ensure accountability and prevent the punishment of innocent students, the Church has outlined clear consequences for those caught in the act.

 Any student "meddling with expo materials" will face immediate dismissal from Catholic schools and will not be permitted to complete the examination. This measure aims to prevent a scenario where an entire school's results are seized by examination bodies like the West African Examination Council (WAEC) due to the actions of a few.

Zero Tolerance for Staff Involvement
The directive extends to all personnel within Catholic schools. Any principal, head teacher, teacher, or administrative staff who aids "expo or any form of examination irregularity" will be deemed to have done "a disservice to humanity" and will be required to "vacate their position in the school immediately."

Crucially, the communique specifically addresses members of the clergy and religious orders directly involved in school management. It explicitly states that "any priest or religious, involved overtly or tacitly, in the arrangement and/or implementation of any form of examination irregularity, will lose his or her faculty to operate as clergy or religious in our dioceses." This signifies a serious internal disciplinary action, potentially leading to suspension from priestly duties or religious life within the affected dioceses.

Call to Government and Society
Beyond internal reforms, the Catholic Bishops urged the State Ministry of Education to partner in this fight by engaging "only men and women of integrity, who cherish excellence in character and learning," particularly in examination conduct. They also called for adequate sanctions against government staff who "betray the very essence of their profession by indulging in or aiding any form of examination

 irregularity."
In a powerful closing statement, Bishop Onah, echoing the collective sentiment, urged everyone to "join to say 'No' to the darkness of evil and evil dealings that have plunged our society into suffering and pain," signaling a broader societal call to action against corruption in education.

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