THE Founder, Exam Ethics Marshall International, an NGO, Mr. Ike Onyechere, has canvassed a total cleanup of national ethical values to rid the country of alleged certificate buying in some educational institutions.

Onyechere made the call during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday, while reacting to alleged certificate buying through various examination malpractices in some educational institutions.

He said that it was time regulatory agencies rose to it heir responsibilities of monitoring appropriately every examination conducted from the basic to tertiary levels.

According to him, most private schools are culpable as they tend to charge examination fees above the stipulated amount by examination bodies, which is the beginning of malpractices. ”What happens in these private schools is that every private school doubles or triples examination fees and the extra on the fees is what they use to pay supervisors, teachers in the magic centers. ” This is because most private schools are magic centers set up to commit examination malpractices while making money for themselves as they are not interested in the students.

”I have come to the conclusion that until we clean up the national ethical values environment, addressing examination malpractices will be a waste of time.

”When you talk about the kind of corruption that is going on during the conduct of examinations, you will marvel. “It starts from the school authorities to the teachers, principals and examination supervisors,:’ he said.(NAN