A total of 486 examination magic centres in Anambra State are billed for closure as part of measures to curb examination fraud in the state.

Anambra Commissioner for Education, Prof. Chinyere Omenugha, disclosed this yesterday at the 10th anniversary of St. Joseph’s Academic Award for 2014 held at the state capital, Awka.

She observed that the miracle centres have been aiding and abating examination malpractices in the state, especially during West African School Certificate Examinations (WASC) and National Examination Council (NECO) examinations.

Prof. Omenugha stressed that the decision to shut down the magic centres became necessary due to the way their operators use them to swindle unsuspecting desperate candidates.

She lamented that the emergence of the miracle centres has made students lazy to study.

“Our children no longer study to pass examinations. Rather, they go to those places where they will be helped to pass examinations,” the commissioner said, adding:

“We have set machinery in motion to ensure that those examination miracle centres are closed down so that our children would imbibe the spirit and culture of success through hard work.”

In his speech, the founder of St Joseph’s Academic Award, Mr. Barth Nwibe, explained that it was instituted to motivate youths to become assets to the society.

He expressed the willingness of his awarding institution to partner with the state government in its efforts to wipe out corruption in the education sector.

•Photo shows Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano.