Educationists in Nigeria do not always agree with the fact that standards of education has fallen.They argue that as long as the curriculum is still intact and rich, their values and academic reservoir as teachers still not diminished, then the standard remains high. There is however no gainsaying the fact that the country's education needs to be rescued from this abysmal decline especially in the wake of mass failures in WAEC , NECO and other examinations.The yearly mass failure recorded by students in both WAEC and NECO exams in the last seven years have continued to bewilder stakeholders. With most of them suggesting that falling standard of infrastructural facilities in the education sectors, the poorly motivated teaching staff, and the general indiscipline in the society where everyone wants the easy way out, are the possible reasons.The aforementioned reasons, quite frankly are germane ones. The absence of one or all of them, is an obvious ticket to academic failures.According to Mr. Tunde Kilajolu, an educationist, the failure of Nigerian students in Waec/Neco is caused by an economic induced psychological tragedy. His words : 'First, we must understand that many of these failures are recorded in public schools. One does not need an expert to know that only indigent students go to public schools today, in Nigeria. And these public schools across the country with decaying infrastructures, poorly trained and motivated teachers cannot be good grounds for any meaningful academic pursuance. To worsen the situation, the poverty that pervade the families of these students add up in making their academic pursuance an impossible accomplishment.'The different symposiums that came up in the course of finding solution to this problem, have not been directing their search lights on the economic realities in the country. Even the various panels set up by government to find out the immediate cause of this perennial educational crisis, have only succeeded in wasting the scarce financial resources of the country. Some of them even advocate the use of mother tongue in educating these students. Their submission is that the students learn fast and better when taught in their indigenous languages. While not laying claim to any expertise in education policy, I strongly disagree with their assertion. To write in our mother tongues is not as easy as they are painting it.If any seriousness is given to the use of mother tongues in educating students, perhaps the scholars advocating the policy should tell Nigerians how the exams will now be answered' Will it be done verbally or written' It will be impossible to have verbal exams for large numbers of students, so obviously the exams will be written. If the students are going to write these exams in their various languages, how do they intend to organise the answer sheets since the students would have answered the questions in their respective languages. Also there is the possibility of having an ethnic crisis evolving. For instance if Yoruba teachers are to mark Yoruba students, while those of igbos and Hausa do the same for their students, the possibility of ethnic solidarity in marking cannot be rule out. These teachers would definitely want their own tribal students to pass by all means; we should also be mindful that even those to supervise the teachers' markings will also be of the same tribe.'Dr. John Nwodo, a university don ascribed failures in examination to poverty. His words : 'The major cause of failures in Waec/Neco is poverty. Most of these students are from families who find it difficult to take care of their basic needs like food, shelter, health care etc. Some of them spend quality time under excruciating sun trying to eke a living, when they should be studying or reading. Many are their families' breadwinners as a result of lost of jobs by their parents or guardians.'Another reason for failure in national exams, might be the lack of enthusiasm for educational laurels by students. This is surely a fallout of what they see on streets where graduates roam about looking for unavailable jobs. Most of these students who will not want to reckon with similar fate, would most certainly look away from education and seek other options to alleviate poverty in their families. The high level of disinterest in education for trading needs to be discouraged.'Mrs. Ibukun Olurombi was of the opinion that for the rot in the sector to be addressed, family values should be emphasised. Her words : 'The family system has fallen in Nigeria. Indigent children are now the breadwinners in their respective families; the same society should therefore not expect these children to be mentally and psychologically prepared for the challenges of education. It is the garbage the Nigerian society is giving these children and youths that they are returning in equal measure.'Nigeria has failed its adult population, is presently failing its youths and if the trend continues it will eventually fail its future generation. There is only one visible solution to the perennial mass failures in national examinations in the country, and it is economic empowerment of the family units. Create the enabling environment for parents to take up their responsibilities again to their children, and these parents will be glad to assist their communities to put an end to the decaying infrastructures in schools, and monitor the conducts of their children and teachers; and ultimately these children would have the ample time to read their books in very happy, well fed and stress-free atmosphere, which is what they need to bring out the best in them.'Recently, the wife of the Bayelsa State governor, Mrs. Alayingi Sylva, described as national embarrassment, the poor results recorded by students at the West African Examination Council, WAEC, and National Examination Council, NECO, examinations in the country.Expressing concern at the sad turn of event, Mrs. Sylva blamed the dismal result announced by the examination bodies on the poor education system and the non-reading culture among youths in the country. She urged state governments to implement new educational policies and structures to reverse the trend.She spoke at the presentation of over 500 subsidised Zinox mini laptops to pupils and teachers of secondary schools in the state, argued that the poor school system and the non-reading culture should be solved with the introduction of students to computer education and operation.Her words : 'A nation without an affirmative posture on computer education may not achieve the desired result. Without computer in the curriculum, the students are nothing.'You can see the recent result of national examinations, they were national embarrassment. Bayelsa was rated one of the poorest in the results, but we are now picking up.'She said. She noted that the positive results being recorded by students in the state were due to the introduction of computers.The Zuru emirate council in Kebbi State identified the lack of qualified teachers as a major reason for failure of students from the area in secondary school external examinations. A fact finding committee led by Mr Karatu Wele, that was appointed by the Emir of Zuru, Alhaji Sani Sami, reported that if there were enough qualified teachers, students' performance in external examinations in the area would improve.Wele, who submitted the findings of the committee on the standard of education in the area to the emir , said shortage of modern learning materials and infrastructure also affected the performance of students in the examinations. He said the committee discovered that there were no qualified teachers for Mathematics and science subjects that were required for students to gain admission into tertiary institutions.Wele said that sponsorship of some unqualified teachers for higher studies would remedy the mass failure recorded in external examinations.
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