The Zonal Co-ordinator
of West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) in Rivers State, Mr Ubaka Humphrey has blamed governments and teachers for the failure of candidates in the two compulsory subjects (Mathematics and English) of the last Senior Secondary School Examinations (SSSE).
Mr Humphry, who stated this in an exclusive interview with The Tide, Thursday, hinted that although the candidates and parents also contributed to the failure, the bulk of the blame should go to government and the teachers.
On the part of government, he said, non sustainability of policies on education has contributed immensely to the poor educational system in the country.
Today, this government will come, introduce one programe, tomorrow, another government will come and introduce another programe,” he said.
Beyond this, the WAEC boss said both government and school proprietors seem to be comfortable employing unqualified teachers.
“Most of the teachers are not qualified. If you now have somebody who does not have basic foundation in teaching, to teach the students, you will found out that there is bound to be crisis in the system,” he said.
According to him, candidates on their part, currently dedicate lesser time to study preparatory to writing examinations.
“Most of our students don’t read anymore some always look out for people to write for them, hence the increase in examination malpractice.”
As a contributory factor, Mr Humphrey stated further, parents/guardians currently indulge in providing what they regard as one form of help or the other for their children /Wards toward ensuring that they pass their exams.
Some Parents, he said,” are ready to pay money at all cost to ensure that their children pass the examinations. Some of them even hire mercenaries to write their children.
A statement by the Head of National Office of WAEC, Mr Charles Eguridu stated that a total of 1,605,248 registered for the last SSSE.
Out of these number, 864,096 were males, while 729,346 were females.
Mr Eguridu revealed that a break down of the results of the 2015 May/June exams states that 616,370 candidates, representing 38.66 per cent obtained five credits and above including Mathematics and English.
He, however, stated that there was a marginal increase in this years result compared to that of last year in which 529,425 candidates, representing 31.28 per cent obtained five credits and above, including English and Mathematics.
