Covid - 19 West African School Certificate Examinations
It has been suggested that the Covid -19 pandemic be used in dating events. A milestone in the lives of our children is the 2020 West African School Certificate Examinations.
I recall that when I did my West African School Certificate Examination, there was mass leakage and I thought
However, as if West African Examinations Council had an inkling of what was afoot, that year they conducted a mock examination for schools.
Perhaps, that exercise helped them in sifting the wheat from the chaff. This year of the Covid - 19 pandemic it is about social distancing in the halls and a lack of diligent preparation.
The attitude of government in public service is a huge cause for concern. I personally do not feel there should be a legislation to compel people to have a taste of their own medicine.
Government officials should as a matter of duty send their children and wards to government schools and patronize government services.
This is a no brainer. It is a matter of ethics that you exhibit confidence in what you are serving the people.
Social distancing in the Examinations is no issue but to what extent did the government assist in getting the pupils ready in both public and private schools.
Private school owners are only cashing in on the weakness of government.. The service they are rendering should be under the purview of government.
The government should not treat school owners as competitors but as collaborators in providing an essential developmental service. The beneficiaries of private and public education are all our children to whom we are to bequeath our future, their progress is our duty.
Rather than erect road blocks of extortion along the paths of private schools, government owes them a duty of care as whatever good comes from them go to the bottom line of government in measuring educational achievement in the country. Any good that comes from the private schools is all for the country.
The sooner government sees this, the better for the country. Whatever results come from the pupils, government should evaluate their own contribution in the face of closure of schools and a lack of a contingency support for the pupils.
To the pupils, examination may not be a true test of knowledge but they should be consoled by the fact, that theirs was an examination under challenging circumstances not in terms of social distancing in the halls but uncertainty in preparation.
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If the needed educational services are provided, social distancing in schools' examinations ordinarily is good, but government has failed woefully. This year's results will be a benchmark to gauge how far our educational standard has fallen. The private schools' performance should not be the measure of how far we have gone. It's a wonderful piece, you have written sir.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot
DeleteIts all about holding the government officials accountable to what their business should be. We have allowed ourselves relegated long enough to "developing or third world nation" as if we don't have what it takes to be developed or first nation. It is rather pathetic to see the government failing Every time despite increasing resources available to them. The government in Nigeria have failed woefully and should be held accountable. One of the ways to hold government accountable is for the populace to stop replicating the structure we are trying to demolish from the system. The citizenry should stop being followers and needing someone to babysit them. They need to go back to tge old ways of tracing their leadership or representation from the grassroots.
ReplyDeleteNigerians have the power and resources to change the leadership but too self centered to know who to elect next time. We need to begin to pursue what is best for us rather than individuals interests. Its needless to start comparing Nigeria with Europe and America. Nigeria have been growing with a srep forward and 4 steps backwards. We are never prepared and we decided not to grow that is why we are in the situation we find ourselves today like the WAEC issue. Even if tablets are distributed we still have problems of who will actually use it for online class, and if we have access to the required internet connectivity. It's a big problem but journey of thousands miles starts with a step. The people need to change before they can change the system.
Ojo Akognon
I am indeed proud of you
DeleteIts all about holding the government officials accountable to what their business should be. We have allowed ourselves relegated long enough to "developing or third world nation" as if we don't have what it takes to be developed or first nation. It is rather pathetic to see the government failing Every time despite increasing resources available to them. The government in Nigeria have failed woefully and should be held accountable. One of the ways to hold government accountable is for the populace to stop replicating the structure we are trying to demolish from the system. The citizenry should stop being followers and needing someone to babysit them. They need to go back to tge old ways of tracing their leadership or representation from the grassroots.
ReplyDeleteNigerians have the power and resources to change the leadership but too self centered to know who to elect next time. We need to begin to pursue what is best for us rather than individuals interests. Its needless to start comparing Nigeria with Europe and America. Nigeria have been growing with a srep forward and 4 steps backwards. We are never prepared and we decided not to grow that is why we are in the situation we find ourselves today like the WAEC issue. Even if tablets are distributed we still have problems of who will actually use it for online class, and if we have access to the required internet connectivity. It's a big problem but journey of thousands miles starts with a step. The people need to change before they can change the system.
Ojo Akognon
Before COVID-19 there had been problems of neglect and strangling of the school system. So, no amount of measures taken on account of the pandemic could achieve any meaningful result.
ReplyDeleteIt's not just the government. We, all, are guilty of taking panic measures in addressing problems. Let's not pass the buck. The parents, too, are culprits in these misadventures.