This document discusses the issue of examination malpractice and reliance on "miracle centers" where cheating occurs to guarantee good grades. It describes a conversation between a female student and her teacher where she requests to "come play" with him, implying she wants help cheating. This highlights the lack of morality in both the student who is willing to cheat and the teacher who agrees. The document argues that parents who send their children to these centers are setting them up for failure and nurturing a generation without strong moral values. Reliance on cheating to get good grades will not prepare children for the challenges of university or life. The education system needs reform to focus on merit-based admissions rather than grades obtained through immoral means.

1. UNCLE, CAN I COME AND PLAY WITH YOU?
So the conversation went this way;
CHEATER: perhaps he said; “you are laughing abi”?
Receiver End: Nooo, I’m not laughing ooo. I am coming oo
CHEATER: perhaps he replied; “They will see us”
Receiver End: Sebi, you will just call me and I will come to your office, nobody will see us na
CHEATER: ….
Receiver End: Uncle, I am coming to play with you oo.
And that was the conversation between a terminal female student and her teacher, nooo, call him
cheater,on the day theyhad furthermathematicsexamination. Whatisthe definitionof playas usedin
the dialogue above?Obviously,fromthe flirtatious dressthe studenthadon,the definitionof playis not
far-fetched.Foragirl of barelysixteentocall her“cheater”and requestfora playinthe school,thenthe
question of morality is a thing of the past.
Apart from the dialogue in the conversation, what moral values does the girl hold, if any? To question
what herfamilyvaluesare like is checkingforwaterina basket.A morallyuprightfamilywill neverallow
her girl child wear what she had on, not to imagine enrolling her in a miracle center.
That is just a preamble.
It isthe seasonof examination.The feversof WAEC,UTME, and whathave you are spreadingaround like
wildfire.The newlyintroducedadmissionpatterndevoidof apostutme inNigerianschoolshave opened
the doorsforabusiness boastforspecialcentersalsocalledmiraclecenters.The childcannolongersettle
for a C or B. Every studentneedsanA.WithoutnumerousA paradingthe grade linesinthe child’sresult
his/her admission chances are so slim if not narrow.
In a bid to help their children pass excellently well at any cost, the child is withdrawnfrom the previous
low performing school and registered into a miracle center. In the miracle center, the child’s exams
success is very much sure and guaranteed. All the familyneeddo is make payment and the cheaters in
the hell of learningwill performthe desiredmiracle.All theyneedare A’s. Little dotheyknow that they
are creatinga dark future for the nextgeneration.A generationthathas beenhelpedtogrow underthe
auspices of immorality. Later, the present generation complains of the nature of the generations yet to
come.
Visibly,the generationfortomorroware nurturedstartingfromourtoday.Itisnotsufficienttoguide our
immediate generation alone and leave the upcoming generation in dis-array. But clearly, the present
generation is the architect for the dis-array of the upcoming generations. The present generation owns
the schools,the religiouscenters,the political arenas andall agentsrequiredforsocializationof the child.
What are the present generation leaving behind for the future generation? Gambling, malpractices,
corruption, nepotism, forgery, the list is endless.
To those who writes on the platforms of learning, what moral values are transmitted in our teachings?
What consciouseffortsare we making towardsmaking rightthe wrongs of our presentgeneration?The

2. attitude of thirtydaysmake apaywill notallow mostpeopleairtheirviewsonissuespertainingtoschool
discipline,fortheydidnotcome bytheirjobseasily. Immoralityisnow commonplaceinschools,cheaters
woo those under their tutelage and everyone seems to be okay with this prevailing happenings.
Back to the issue of examination malpractices and the quest for A’s. Perhaps, the girl in above
conversation happens to be one of those in search of A’s in miracle centers. The confidence with which
she spoke made itclearshe wasdeterminedtohave herA’snomatterwhatthe costmaybe.The call was
made publiclyandeveryonelookedon,she wasinthecompanyof hercolleagueswholistenedandsmiled
as the conversation went on.
Indeed,she spoke with acheater,anangel of doom.Whatmoral standingdoesthatcheaterhave to be a
member of the citadel of learning? This and many more are issues we all need to deliberately ponder
upon. She and her network were miles away immediately after the call, attempts to recognize her and
possiblythe receiverof the call wasunsuccessful.Questions onmoralityneedbe asked,whatvaluesdoes
the school portray;whatvaluesare inherentinthe schoolsystem,are teachersintheschool systemreally
teachers or cheaters, what criteria fits perfectly for the definition of morality. These and many more
questions needs be critically examined.
The parents, guardian and those who transmute into miracle centersin a bid for “excellent results” are
the reasonsthe countryremainswhere itis.How will suchachildcope upongainingadmission?Howwell
can such child perform the required tasks when the needs arise? The answer is simple, payments;
financiallyorbysexualgratification,afterall thechildwasnotdoingsuchfor the firsttime,yetthefamilies
look on. Most families in the miracle center business are unconsciouslypreparing their child(ren) for
lazinessandunseriouness.Foragirl child,promiscuityisimminent.Gambling,bullyingandotherformsof
immorality awaitsthe boy.Yet,such parentswill argue;our girl/boy childcanneverindulge insuchacts,
but clearly, their foundations into the real world were launched with lies.
Cheaters are not teachers, teachers are not cheaters. Though, they have the same letters, their
arrangementsare different,signifyingadifferenceinexpectedrolesandfunctions. The presentmayseem
too stringent for teachers, but along the continuum, hard work pays. The students a teacher carefully
guide into a model worthy of emulationwill in his/her life time gratify the teacher. Similarly, accolades
and praisesmaybe showeredon cheatersatthe presentmoment,butinthe nearestfuture,suchpraises
begin to manifest their true meanings; curses upon curses, for such individuals never mentored, never
guidedthe childtowardspreparingforthe numerous tasksahead.The resultstheyparadedwherenever
theirs, they were bought, and whatever one never labored for, can never be cherished forever.
The message herein is crystal clear, admissions into the higher citadels of learning should be obtained
with merits and not through miracle centers or nepotism. When the child fails, it does not necessarily
mean the child is a dullard, rather it may be as a result of the psychological nature of the child or other
factors. Parentsshouldnot so much love theirchild(ren) tothe extentof indulgingtheminexamination
malpractices, for whatever foundation they erect for their child(ren) will serve as a reference point for
their tomorrow. Help eradicate immoral practices in our examination centers. Grade A does not
determine the success of the child.