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 Muhammad     Dasuki Belgore     Saidu Kawu     Special Agro-Industrial Hub     Ogbondoroko     Convocation Ceremonies     Saba Mamman Daniel     Abdulrahman Iliasu     Abdulfatai Salman Baakini     Adijat Adebiyi     Frootify     Majlis For Sadakah, Zakat And Waqf     Ayoade Akinnibosun     Ganiyu Taofiq     Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Ajike People Support Centre     Raliat Elelu-Habeeb     Yakubu Gobir     Government Girls’ Day Secondary School Pakata     Shola Odetundun     Ali Ahmad     Abdullahi Adisa Akodudu     Student Learning Support Helpline     Countryside Emerging Leaders Fellowship     Ita-Ore     Modibbo Kawu     SWAN     Mukhtar Shagaya     Oloriegbe     Wole Oke     Ibrahim Labaika     Omu Aran     Dankaka     Valsolar-Kwara Company Limited     Hussein Oloyede     Royal FM     Donatus Ejidike     Kassim Babamale     Rueben Parejo     Kamoru Kadiri     Bola Sagaya     Sai Kayi     Abdulmajeed Abdullahi     Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency     Ballah     Baba-Isale     Kwara State Infrastructure Development Fund     Salman Alada     Olokoba     Eruku     Kwara Consultative Forum     Idris Amosa Saidu     Abdullahi Biffo     Ilorin Durbar     Matthew Okedare     Nigerian Medical Association     Ilorin Emirate Staff Association     Aliyu Adebayo     Is\'haq Modibbo Kawu     Emmanuel Bello     Col. Taiwo     Muhammed Danjuma     Abdul Jimoh Mohammed     PharmAccess Foundation     Seed Technologies     Elerinjare-Ibobo     Abdulkadir Akanbi-Oke     Garba Dogo     Yakubu Dogara     AbdulRazaq Abubakar Jiddah     Sobi FM     Lanwa     Isiaka Alikinla     Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah     Yahaya Jibril Usman     HICA     Abdulmumini AbdulRazaq    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Okanlawon Taiwo     Adeniyi Ojo     Asa     Saadu Yusuf     Taofik Mustapha     Charcoal     Raliat Islamic Foundation     Funke Adedoyin     Bamikole Omishore     Ahmad Olayiwola Kamaldeen     Muideen Olaniyi Alalade     Okanlawon Musa     Binta Abubakar Mora     Saidu Kawu     Mohammed Lawal Bagega     Sodiya     John Obuh     Abdullahi Imam Abdullahi     Kwara State Polytechnic     Kwara State Government     Salami Adekunle     Jaigbade Alao     Sarakite     Bolaji Aladie     Kumbi Titiloye     Tunde Kazeem     Sidikat Uthman Ajibola     Samuel Adedoyin     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants     Toyin Saraki     SWAN     Bankole Omisore     Yusuf Babatunde Abdulwahab     Read With Me     Medview Airlines     Mohammed Danjuma     C2c@kwarastate.gov.ng     Hassanat Bello     Saka Asiat Ayinke     Local Government     Elections     Ilorin Like-Minds     Abdulwaheed Musa     Mahmud Ajeigbe     Afolasade Opeyemi Kemi     Alao Ayotunde     Akorede     Sulu Babaita Isiaka     Kanu Agabi     Oke-Ogun     Gbemi Saraki     Azeez Bello     Dan-Kazeem     Universal Basic Education Commission     Dele Momodu     Sidikat Alaya     Suleiman Yahya Alapansapa     Omu Aran     Kwara Consultative Forum     Muhammad Fawaz Abubakar     International Vocational Centre     Abdulrazaq Aiyelabegan     Barakat Community Secondary School     Mahmud Ayinla Giwa     Tayo Awodiji     Oro Grammar School Old Students Association     Suleman Abubakar     Voices Of Tomorrow     Mustapha AbdulGaniyu     Yusuf Amuda Abubakar     Kishira     Alabi Olayemi Abdulrazak     Mansurat Amuda-Kannike     Kola Shittu     Folorunsho Alao     Salihu Ajia     CBT