Ahead the rescheduled date, May 7, for the National Common Entrance Examinations (NCEE) by the National Examination Council (NECO), parents have called on the government and heads of schools to work out modalities to curb the spate of insecurity, moral decadence and criminalities prevalent in most secondary schools.
The parents said the growing rate of these vices, particularly in boarding schools have constituted a deterrent to the enrollment of their wards in the schools, hence, their reluctance in the purchase of the forms for the Unity Colleges.
Speaking with TheTide in Port Harcourt, at the weekend, a cross section of parents noted with dismay the ChrisLand School saga, expressing fears that boarding schools are no longer safe for the young students as they serve as breeding grounds for all kinds of immoral activities.
A medical doctor and father of two students in one of the Federal Government Colleges, Dr Gershon Bobmanuel said “two of my children are in one of the FGCs and intend enrolling the third one but as it were, I’m afraid of doing so.
“What is happening in our boarding schools are so threatening to the spiritual, social, biological and academic life of these children that feel it’s better to enroll them in not just day schools but schools that are close to you so you could keep your eyes on them and monitor their activities”.
On her part, an educationist, Dr Seline Onuoha, averred that education and morality work in peri perso for the wholesome development of the child, stating that all hands must be on deck for this to be achieved in present day young students.
“NECO is right when it said the NCEE was shifted due to low purchase of entrance forms because I have seen one or two parents who said they are scared of buying the form because of some of the activities in the boarding system.
“You know you are to choose six schools, one from each of the six geopolitical zones of the country. And maybe you want your ward to have the experience of another environment outside your state, it is becoming confusing and worrisome”.
A businessman, Daniel Saane, was of the view that boarding system be scrapped as it would help to checkmate the ill-activities of the students and in extension save their future.
Saane said, it is obvious that the time these children stay in their dorms or hostels, they engage in lots of immoral acts. The level of theft reported by them, especially the junior students is so alarming that you begin to wonder if these children are trained robbers.
“ I think this boarding thing should be scrapped. Maybe that could help to save the situation and future of the country”.
Recall that the NECO has rescheduled the 2022 National Common Entrance Examination conducted for admission into Federal Unity Colleges from Saturday, April 23 to Saturday, May 7.
The council said the shift was imperative to give states with low registration of candidates the opportunity to register their candidates.

By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu