The Policy Adviser, Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All, Mr. Wale Samuel, has called on the Ministry of Education to focus on quality education to drive Vision 20:2020.

Samuel made the call in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said the announcement by the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i that public examinations should be limited to five papers to check failure was not the solution.”

“The Minister might have good intentions but that is not the solution to the problems, we must begin to look at the problem holistically and tackle it from the roots,” he said.

He called for a paradigm shift, with the country de-emphasising certification and discussing more on quality functional education.

“There is the need to do away with the fixation on certification and focus more on assessment and quality education,” he said.

He, however, commended the minister on the charge given to examination bodies to henceforth release the results of candidates at once.

The Tide’s source spoke to some secondary school students on the development and they expressed joy at the minister’s pronouncement.

Emeka Nwobodo of Federal Government Boys College, Garki, Abuja, said although he was not aware of the announcement, it would make students concentrate on relevant subjects.

“I think this will make us concentrate better on the relevant subjects since there are lots of exams to write,” he said.

Aisha Bashir of Federal Government Girls College, Bwari, Abuja, also said having to read for five subjects would give room for better dedication and performance.

The Tide’s source recalls that the Minister on Monday at an education summit in Abuja canvassed that public examinations should be limited to five papers to check failure rate.