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.

Sa\'adatu Modibbo-Kawu     Yakubu Gobir     KWTV     Musbau A. Akanji     REO CAKES     Okin Malt     Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi     Yusuf Arowosaye     Salmon Babatunde Salmon     Alapansapa     Edu     IDPU     Jumoke F. Ajao     Facebook     Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies     Abdulmalik Bashir Mopelola Risikatullahi     MATTA Girls Foundation     Bello Oyedepo     Post Utme     Muhammad Toyin Sanusi     JSSCE     Talaka Parapo     Ilorin Emirate Staff Association     Nigeria Foundation For Artificial Intelligence     Alumni Association Of The Federal Polytechnic Offa     School Of Nursing     Lawal Jimoh     Tunji Folami     Olatomiwa Williams     Ibrahim Taiwo     Irepodun     Hassan Oyeleke     Baboko Primary School     Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development     Olohungbebe     Samuel Elizabeth Keatswa     Ayedun     Undergraduate Bursary     Bolaji Aladie     Ramadhan     Kuliyan Geri     Government Girls’ Day Secondary School Pakata     Odolaye Aremu     Rice Farmers Association Of Nigeria     Standard Organization Of Nigeria     Yoruba     Aminat Omodara     Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu     Yusuf AbdulRasheed     Umar Sanda Yusuf     Agbarere     Abatemi-Usman     Kwara South     Ajeigbe     Joana Nnazua Kolo     Taofeek Sanusi     Olaoye B. Felix     Chartered Institute Of Personnel Management Of Nigeria     Kassim Babamale     Fatai Olodo     Bola Olukoju     Saadu Yusuf     SSA Youth     Oke-Ogun     Bola Sagaya     Sobi     Quarry Royal Valley     Kwara Poly     KwaraLearn     Aso-ofi     Ridhwanullah Al-Ilory     Yusuf A. Usman     Rafiu Ibrahim     COVID     Ayo Adeyemi     Salihu S. Yaru     Computer Based Test    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Baaziki Sulaiman     New Model Police Station     Minimum Wage     Ogbondoroko     Yahaya Oloriegbe     Salaudeen Oyewale     Gamji Members Association     Olayinka Are     Niguel Gallando Marcias     Bello Abubakar     Ishola Moses Abiodun     Umar Adelodun     Gbajabiamila     Opaleke Bukola Iyabo     Segun Olawoyin     Muslimah Entrepreneurship Forum     Olaiya Zuberu     Olayinka Olaogun     Federal Polytechnic Offa     Abdulrahman Abdulrasak     Bashirat Bola Bello     Kwara 2015     Elewu     Wahab Egbewole     Gbugbu International Market     Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development     Ibrahim Abduquadri Abikan     Akorede     Ijakadi     Tsaragi     Muslim Cementary     Ubandoma     Kola Shittu     Zulkifli Ibraheem     Oro Grammar School Old Students Association     Oke Sunna     Olusegun Adeniyi     Ibrahim Orire     Saidu Isa     Umar Saro     Saliu Ajibola Ajia     Sheu Ndanusa Usman     AGILE Programme     Saka Asiat Ayinke     Ajasse-Ipo     Tescom.kwarastate.gov.ng     Abdullahi AbdulMajeed     COVID-19 Palliatives     Wahab Olasupo Egbewole     Oba Mogaji Abdulkadir     Aisha Abodunrin Ibrahim     Idofin     Shaykh Luqman Jimoh     Kudirat Arinola Lawal     Oniyangi Kunle Sulaiman     Amuda Musbau     JAMB     John Olobayo     Abdulmajeed Wahab     Yusuf Amuda Aluko     Shade Omoniyi     KWIRS     Oke-opin     AbdulRaheem Ahmad Shayi     Jimoh Olusola Imam     Rachael Obisesan     Kolawole Bashirat     Farouk Salim     Imodoye Writer’s Enclave     Olatunji Bamgbola     Ayo Opadokun     AbdulQowiy Olododo     Ibrahim Mashood     Halidu Danbaba     Joshua Adeyemi Adimula     Saadu Yusuf     Oyedun Juliana Funke