For Kwara, an Emblem of Shame. By Segun Adeniyi

Date: 2020-02-04

News that no fewer than 165 secondary schools in Kwara State have been indicted by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) for widespread cheating during the last examinations is both shocking and embarrassing. "Examination malpractice constitutes some of the worst hindrance to a bright future because it negates the time tested principles of hard work, diligence, and thirst for knowledge and excellence," said Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq who has promised to redress the situation.

However, whichever way one looks at the disgraceful development, this is a relapse to the pre-2007 era when the state was one of the hottest destinations for examination malpractices in the country; with the so-called "miracle centres", mainly in the rural areas. The reform launched by the then commissioner for education in the state, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi (who would later be minister) tackled this menace aggressively. Improving the quality of teaching in schools was at the centre of his reform, appropriately named 'Every Child Counts'. With support from the World Bank and the DFID/ESSPIN programmes, Kwara became a reference point for what was possible, including prosecuting people for examination offences. WAEC recognized these efforts and wrote a letter commending the state government at the time.

Unfortunately, the government that took over in 2011 lacked either the will or the capacity to sustain the efforts of the preceding years, even though they all belonged to the same party. This failure of policy continuity, among others, is a major governance challenge in Nigeria. The shameful WAEC report is also a direct indicator of everything that has gone wrong with our country—the failure of governance and the collapse of our value system.

Meanwhile, although the incident that led to the current decision by WAEC happened under the last administration, the ball is now squarely in the court of Governor AbdulRazaq. Yet available reports on the quality of appointment he has made to the education ministry are, to put it mildly, not encouraging. An inexperienced elementary school teacher who has her own struggles with English language can hardly inspire confidence to lead the necessary reform in a critical sector. The governor should either review this appointment or personally lead the charge.

Parents too have a great role to play. They must be made to understand the connection between examination malpractices and the endemic joblessness among their wards. The 21st century job market does not care so much for certificates as it does for the real skill that the prospective employee brings to the market. Those who obtain certificates through fraudulent means will eventually meet their nemesis when they cannot justify such credentials with actual competence.

For Governor AbdulRasak, the challenge in Kwara State cannot be made clearer.

 


Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Yahaya Oloriegbe     Alikinla     Tunji Olawuyi     Maigida Soludero Transit     Ita-Ore     Sam Okaula     Amosa     COVID     Guber Aspirant     Olayinka Olaogun     Abegunde Goke     Muhammad Mustapha Suleiman     Musibau Akanji     Baakini     Ramat Oganija     Suleiman Alege Kuranga     National Party Of Nigeria     KWTV     Afeyin-Olukuta     Titus Suberu-Ajibola     Alimi Abdulrazaq     Kola Olota     Salihu Ajia     Owu Fall     KWATMA     Kwara State Football Association     Oniyangi Kunle Sulaiman     Tunde Kazeem     Bola Magaji     Kwara TV     Bello Abubakar     Ganmo Electricity Sub-Station     Al-Ilory     Shettima     Ahmed Bolaji Nagode     Joseph Alex Offorjama     Lanre Issa-Onilu     Okedare     Abdullahi Adisa Akodudu     Ishaq Salman     Suleiman Abubakar     Ibrahim Oloriegbe     Ayobami Seriki     Oluwatoyin Lukman     Omupo     Olaiya Victor Mobolaji     International Aviation College     Saka Balikis Kehinde     Emir Of Ilorin     Alagbado     Olaiya Lawal     Boko Haram     Bayo Ojo     Federal Polytechnic Offa     Saudat Abdulbaqi     GANZY     Agbarigidoma     Oyawoye     Assayomo     Ilorin Metro Park     Government High School (GHS), Adeta     Iyiola Oyedepo     Tafida Of Ilorin     National Pilot     Presidential Election     Ajike People Support Centre     Oasis Muslim Care Foundation     College Of Education     Benin Republic     Monkey Pox     Galadima     Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi     3MTT     Aisha Ahman Pategi     Neo Mundo Ltd     John Dara     Mutawali    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

CACOVID Palliatives     All Peoples Party     Oba Abdulkadir La\'aro     Abdulrauf Yusuf     Ajidagba     Baruten     Adesina Simon Sodiya     Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq     Ilesha Gwanara Road     Hameed Oladipupo Ali     Amina Susa\'a De Ahmed     Durbar     Kawu     Oko-Erin     Monkey Pox     Sunday Fagbemi     Ekweremadu     Bio Ibrahim     Olatunji Abdulmumeen     Code Of Conduct Tribunal     Tayo Awodiji     Ayo Salami     Kayode Zubair     Sa\'ad Alanamu     Kunle Akogun     Ilorin General Hospital     Aisha Ahman-Pategi     CCT     Kemi Adeosun     Owo Arugbo     Femi Agbaje     Kamaldeen Ajibade     Kehinde Baale     Temi Kolawole     Oyelere Oyinloye     Salman Alada     Oro Grammar School     Wale Oladepo     Oke-Kura     Sai Kayi     Erubu Oba Zubair     Marufat Oladosu     Alaaya     Binta Sulyman     Ishaq Abdulkarim     Ella Supreme Tissue Paper     Joshua Adeyemi Adimula     Javed Khan     University Road     Kehinde Boyede     Issa Baba     HYPPADEC     Olaiya Victor Mobolaji     Toyin Sanusi     Ganmo Power Sub-Station     Kwara State Polytechnic     Talaka Parapo     Oyedun Juliana Funke     Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi     Yusuf Amuda Aluko     Aiyedun     Towobola Abdulrahman Toyin     Ojo Fadumila     Al-Adaby     Kwara Restoration Project     Musibau Akanji     Isau     Sulyman Abdulkareem     AbdulRazaq Abubakar Jiddah     Kupchi Hosea Maxwell     Abdulrasheed Lafia     Onikijipa     Taofeeq Olateju     Funmilayo Zubair     Bamidele Adegoke Oladimeji     Simeon Sayomi     Halidu Danbaba