Commissioner for Education, Akwa
Ibom State, Mrs. Eunice Thomas, has said that nine pupils from public primary
schools in the state, who had distinctions in First School Leaving Certificate
examinations, were unable to write their names after a further test was
conducted on them.
Ibom State, Mrs. Eunice Thomas, has said that nine pupils from public primary
schools in the state, who had distinctions in First School Leaving Certificate
examinations, were unable to write their names after a further test was
conducted on them.
Thomas said the revelation was made when the governor, Mr.
Godswill Akpabio, directed all heads of schools to bring the best pupils from
FSLC examination, one in each of the 31 local government areas of the state, to
a designated school, where they were re-examined.
Godswill Akpabio, directed all heads of schools to bring the best pupils from
FSLC examination, one in each of the 31 local government areas of the state, to
a designated school, where they were re-examined.
Speaking during capacity building workshop for primary school
teachers in Uyo Senatorial District on Saturday, Thomas who was represented by
the permanent secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Chrisantus Asuka, added
that besides the nine, many others could not score five per cent in the test.
teachers in Uyo Senatorial District on Saturday, Thomas who was represented by
the permanent secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Chrisantus Asuka, added
that besides the nine, many others could not score five per cent in the test.
She said, “We conducted a pre-test and say let’s introduce
subjective questions, and not objective questions that one person will stand in
the exam hall and just call out A or B to the candidates and they all will mark
the correct answer.
subjective questions, and not objective questions that one person will stand in
the exam hall and just call out A or B to the candidates and they all will mark
the correct answer.
“At the end, we realised that the child that scored 100 per cent
could not score five per cent.
could not score five per cent.
“How did we discover this? In 2011, Akpabio directed all heads
of schools to take the best pupils from FSLC examinations, one person per local
government.
of schools to take the best pupils from FSLC examinations, one person per local
government.
“We sent them to school – honestly, out of the numbers sent,
nine were unable to write their names, while many others besides the nine could
not score up to five per cent in the test,” she said.
nine were unable to write their names, while many others besides the nine could
not score up to five per cent in the test,” she said.
Thomas blamed the teachers for lack of commitment which resulted
in their making the pupils cheat to pass examinations.
in their making the pupils cheat to pass examinations.
She noted that many of these teachers claimed to teach the
pupils without marking or signing the pupils’ exercise books for a month. She
added that many of the teachers in the state public schools were not qualified.
pupils without marking or signing the pupils’ exercise books for a month. She
added that many of the teachers in the state public schools were not qualified.
She said, “I went to a school in Ukanafun LGA. I saw a teacher,
who looks like a village woman. I asked her who her commissioner was. She
mentioned a name that was not from this side, at all.
who looks like a village woman. I asked her who her commissioner was. She
mentioned a name that was not from this side, at all.
“If you set the same questions you set for the pupils for the
teachers, many of them cannot answer.
teachers, many of them cannot answer.
“The state government conducted an Aptitude Test using the same
syllabus for the students to test the teachers; honestly 60 per cent of the
teachers were unable to pass the examinations.”
syllabus for the students to test the teachers; honestly 60 per cent of the
teachers were unable to pass the examinations.”
Source: 247NigeriaNews
