By VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

The United States embassy Public Affairs Diplomatic Officer, Rhonda Watson, has disclosed that suspension of the TOFEL examination in all its test centers in Nigeria has nothing to do with the U.S embassy in Nigeria or U.S Department of States.

Watson said that the Educational Testing Service (ETS), in New Jersey, U.S.A made the decision to suspend the examination based on fraud.

“The U.S embassy and the U.S Department of States are not involved in any decision taken by the ETS to suspend the test. The exam was cancelled based on issues of fraud which is still under investigation by the Educational Testing Services (ETS) in New Jersey, U.S.A.

“The integrity of TOEFL was being compromised and for fact that its integrity is so important to the ministry, the decision to suspend the test, may have been necessary, until investigations were concluded.”

The TOEFL test, which is a very important part of many students’ opportunity to either study or do a program in any English-speaking country abroad, is noted as most accepted English-language test world-wide.

Most countries across the universe, accept TOEFL test as part of their admissions criteria, including nearly every college and university in Australia and the UK.

It is also noted to be an avenue through which candidates’ abilities to integrate the four English skills, which are needed in academic settings, are measured and this makes it the most comprehensive academic English test made available world-wide.

Unfortunately, many of those who already registered for the test feel most uncomfortable over the new development, worst still as the Regional Test Administrators have declared its re-opening indefinite until such a time investigations are concluded.