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.

Folorunsho Erubu     Florence Saraki     Amasa     Chief Of Staff     Erin-ile     Ahmed Ayinla Jimoh     Amule Elementary School     Tsaragi     Wale Oladepo     Yusuf Abdulkadir     Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah     SSA Youth     April 11     Michael Imoudu National Institute For Labour Studies     College Of Arabic And Islamic Legal Studies     Ibrahim Oloriegbe     Ahman Pategi     Ishaq Salman     Esinrogunjo     Asa LGEA School     Law School Scholarship     Ahmad Lawan     Lawal Olohungbebe     Sidikat Uthman Ajibola     Ballah     Babajide Ajayi     Saadu Yusuf     Sulu Gambari     IYA YUSUF     Dapo Teni Nig Enterprise     Sarkin Malamai     Awwal Jawondo     Omotoso     Azeez Bello     Okin High School     Isapa     Saad Belgore     Ajeigbe     Ayedun     Goodluck Jonathan     Forgo Battery     Olohungbebe     Toyin Olayinka Tejidini     Students Union Government     Seed Technologies     Olawuyi     Nigeria Computer Society     Adamu Ibrahim Sabi     Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence     Yusuf Lanre Badmas     Academic Staff Union Of Universities     Lafia Aliyu Korasabi     Adanla-Irese     Yakub Lai Gobir     Kale Belgore     Joseph Bamigboye     Local Government     Adesina Simon Sodiya     Olushola Saraki     Kwara State Fish Farmers Association     Otoge     Sa\'adu Salahu     Yusuf Aiyedun     Kwara State Football Association     Nigerian Medical Association     UITH     Farouk Salim     Okasanmi Ajayi     Ahmed Bolaji Nagode     Mohammed Katsina Ahmed     Kunle Akogun     Abdulrazaq Aiyelabegan     Principal Private Secretary     Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations     Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari     Oladipo Akanmu Tolani     Yekini Adio    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Imodoye Writer’s Enclave     Wahab Olasupo Egbewole     Share-Tsaragi     Ayo Opadokun     Kwara-SAPZ Project     3MTT     Summit University     2023 Elections     Yusuf Lanre Badmus     Ishak Mohammed Sabi     Senate Presidency     George Innih     Dauda Adeniran Adeshola     Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development     Abdulazeez Arowona     Hakeem Lawal     Olatunji Ibrahim     Tafidan Kaiama     Sulyman Abdulkareem     Oba Abdulraheem     Kolade Solagberu     Abubakar Ndakene     Jaiz Bank     Toyin Falola     Igosun     Shonga     Babaita     GAMA     Abdulrazaq Akorede     Bukola Saraki     Students Union Government     Kamoru Kadiri     Amosa     Lafia Aliyu Korasabi     Olatunde Michaels     Olokoba     Government High School (GHS), Adeta     Hassan Abdulazeez Elewu     Balogun Gambari     Adegoke Bamidele     Tayo Awodiji     Ballah     Centre For Digital Economy     Malete     Olaiya Lawal     Mutawali     Abdulganiyu Oladosu     Iyabo Adisa Ibiyeye     Ayekale     Harrison Osauwagboe     Towoju     Bolakale Kawu     Alao Ayotunde     Ahmed Mohammed Rifun     Harmony Holdings     Lanwa     Baruten     Overland     Aremu Odolaye     Sabitiyu Grillo     Tunde Kazeem     International Public Sector Accounting Standards     Abubakar Baba     Abdulkadri Ahmad Alaiye     Olubukola Kifayat Adedeji     Kwara State Health Insurance Agency     Atiku     Democracy Day     Aliyu Umar     Yakubu Mohammed Abdullahi     Kwara Apc     Sam Onile     Elerin Of Adanla Irese     Ajibola Ademola Julius     Ahmad Belgore     Yahaya Oloriegbe     Bayer AG