The Crisis of "Special Centres": Why Nigeria Must Eliminate Examination Malpractice Hubs to Restore Academic Integrity

Education experts call for a ban on "special centres" in Nigeria to end examination malpractice and ensure that WAEC certificates reflect true student competence.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 4, 2026, 11:11 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Guardian Nigeria.

The Erosion of Educational Standards

Nigeria’s secondary education system is facing a systemic threat from the proliferation of "special centres"—venues originally intended for external candidates that have morphed into hubs for organized malpractice. These centres often allow for "non-appearance" candidates or provide open assistance during the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC). The result is a growing disconnect between the grades on a certificate and the actual skills of the holder, leading to university students and professionals who are fundamentally ill-prepared for their roles.

The Mirage of Improving Pass Rates

On paper, WAEC success rates appear to be trending upward. Data shows that pass rates (five credits including English and Mathematics) rose from 31% in 2014 to peaks of over 70% in recent years. However, education experts caution that these gains may be inflated by the shadow economy of special centres. When students who struggle academically are diverted to these unregulated venues, success is often purchased rather than earned, distorting national performance statistics and masking the underlying decline in literacy and critical thinking.

A Call for Institutional Accountability

A primary reform proposed to fix this "shortcut culture" is the mandatory requirement for all students to sit for examinations in their original schools. This policy would restore the link between teaching and testing. Under current conditions, when a student fails, they are often moved to a dubious centre for a "guaranteed" pass. If students were forced to rewrite exams alongside new cohorts in their own schools, the focus would shift back to structured academic support and remediation, much like the "carry over" system used in universities.