The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has strongly refuted a viral list purportedly naming schools involved in malpractice during the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), describing it as baseless, misleading, and damaging to the integrity of Nigeria’s education system.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, the National President of NAPPS, Dr. Yomi Otubela, clarified that the list did not originate from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), contrary to claims circulating online shortly after the release of the results.
> “A day after that list surfaced, WAEC released an official statement confirming it never issued such a document. They also explained that it would be impossible for any school to be summoned before an investigative panel with a student’s examination script already ‘in favour’ with the council. This proves the so-called list was false from the very start,” Otubela said.
He urged parents, students, and the general public to treat the list with total disdain.
> “Those lists are not factual; they are fabrications. We have interacted directly with WAEC, and no such list exists. If there is any genuine list, we are awaiting it from WAEC itself.”
Dr. Otubela used the opportunity to highlight deeper issues undermining Nigeria’s educational standards, noting that exam malpractice thrives partly because of systemic neglect.
> “One of our biggest challenges is the inadequate investment in teacher capacity building. You cannot have world-class results without world-class teachers,” he stressed.
While acknowledging that Nigeria has sound educational policies on paper, Otubela lamented the lack of proper enforcement.
> “The problem is not in drafting policies but in implementing them without fear or favour. Our monitoring and supervisory agencies must be strengthened to ensure every school meets the required standard.”
The NAPPS president challenged government authorities to step up their oversight role, warning that without effective monitoring, Nigeria’s education sector risks further decline.
> “We urge policymakers to ‘buckle up their shoes’ and ensure that the departments in charge of supervision are up to the task. Schools that fall short of the national standard must be brought into compliance swiftly.”
With the 2025 WASSCE still a talking point across the nation, NAPPS maintains that the integrity of Nigeria’s education system must be protected — not by unverified lists and social media speculation, but by credible investigations, strong policies, and uncompromising enforcement.
PIONEER NEWS 