Meet Precious, who sat for 7 UTME, 4 WAEC exams before getting university admission

By Murtala Abubakar

Ordinarily, Precious Ogechi Ogbueri, a Scotland-based environmentalist, should have given up and forsaken his pursuit of education but he had a resolute determination.
Education was precious to him and he never relented.
He wrote the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) seven times and sat for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) four times before he could secure admission into University of Port Harcourt.
Precious said he was repeatedly called a failure and was advised to ditch his dream of having a university education.

Precious is now a chartered environmentalist

The mockery, criticism and frustration prompted him to contemplate suicide at some point.
The man, who now has a masters degree in safety and environmental management and has qualified as a chartered environmentalist, took to Facebook to share his inspiring story.

“After my secondary education, I decided to further my studies. I wrote the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th JAMB exams and they were all cancelled. I decided to take the bull by the horn.
I went to Enugu State University for a pre-degree program. On the completion of the program, I was offered a course in faculty of Science but the cultism in the institution as at then was unbearable for me, having being attacked twice.
I decided to use the 5th JAMB that was released to study at University of Port Harcourt. Then ASUU had a protracted strike that lasted for over six months, I needed to write a 6th JAMB and I scored 274 but that score couldn’t offer me admissions as the two JAMBS were combined because the strike entered another year.
After the first 6yrs at home, WAEC too was cancelling my results and I wrote WAEC/NECO four times. I was frustrated, mocked, criticized and called a failure. Some of my classmates were already youth Corpers. Many out of pity told me to quit because school wasn’t for me.
The criticisms, mockery and name calling from people that didn’t know what I was passing through compounded my issues and I started thinking of quitting/suicide.
One evening, my brother-in-law/mentor told me “Ogechi nobody can frustrate or determine the outcome of your life except you, don’t quit trying, you’ll be whatever you want to be” I repeated that to myself over a hundred times that night and I assumed the position of a CEO in my life.
I enrolled for another pre-degree program in University of Port Harcourt, and wrote the 7th JAMB and it was also canceled but thank God I passed the BASIC program. So to gain admissions to do a bachelors program, I wrote JAMB 7 times, WAEC/NECO 4 times and Pre-degree 2 times.
However, when I finally entered University, I passed Rivers State government scholarship exams to study abroad but few weeks to departure, another government took over in 2007 and cancelled the scholarship. But I told myself I must study in Nigeria and abroad.
People called me a failure but, I don’t know if I am still a failure, if school is for me now or not, or if am still bewitched as people said.
All I can remember now is that I have done BSc in Nigeria, Masters in Safety and Environmental Management in UK, have seven additional professional certifications, qualified as a Chartered Environmentalist in UK and have worked both in Nigeria & Scotland.
I have learnt that setbacks are actually strongholds in disguise if we don’t quit trying. I have learnt that persistence wears off every resistance.
I have also learnt as a Christian that if your faith says Yes, God won’t say No, only be DETERMINED. I give God ALL the glory and shame to the devil.”

Source: thecable.ng

CAMPAIGN: STOP EXAM MALPRACTICE NOW

#StopExamMalpracticeNow

18 IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT EXAM MALPRACTICE

·         *It is a multi-party offence or crime but only one of them is usually sanctioned.

·         *Parents make exam racketeering thrive by offering money, favour and gifts to accomplices.

·         *Exam racketeering is to public exams (WAEC, JAMB) as exam malpractice is to private exams.

·         *Exam candidates can never cheat in droves unless other key stakeholders (accomplices) agree to and support the act.

·         *Massive exam malpractice and racketeering issues are usually negotiated and settled prior to an exam.

·         *Exam racketeering is the institutionalized system of exam malpractice.

·         *Exam malpractice encourages and makes teachers and students lazy and short of sound mind.

·         *Exam racketeering is usually rewarded in cash and kind.

·         *Exam malpractice denies labour market of competent hands or persons who can viably drive an organization or economy.

·         *Exam racketeering is conspiracy against quality education.

·         *Exam malpractice is the drain of intellectual capability; personal effectiveness and development.

·         *Exam racketeering is strongly institutionalized.

·         *Exam racketeering is pay-back time for money invested to secure government approval for private schools.

·         *Expensive private school approval fee encourages exam racketeering.

·         *When exam malpractice persists, it becomes exam racketeering.

·         *Exam malpractice and exam racketeering undermine the worth of a certificate as well as the awarding institutions.

·         *Exam malpractice and exam racketeering are the formal initiation pathways into corruption for a  growing child.

·         *Exam racketeering promotes ‘fail-outs’ or poor students into leadership positions above their better counter-parts.

8 REASONS EXAM MALPRACTICE  WILL EVER PERSIST

·         *If you keep sanctioning just one party (candidates) as usual out of the many parties to an exam malpractice.

·         *If it is not criminalized by law, the campaign will remain a matter of motion without movement.

·         *Lack of diligent prosecution of all culprits will not deter any intending and uncaught offenders.

·         *Exam racketeering is a huge source of revenue in cash and kind to all parties (individuals & institutions) involved.

·         *Lack of serious penalty yet to counter the social menace.

·         *Exam racketeering remains the quickest viable means for corrupt school owners to recover the fees paid to  government for approval of their schools.

·         *The outrageous fee charged by government for approving private schools makes them to engage in exam racketeering.

·         *For as long as parents keep patronizing other accomplices by offering money, gifts  and favour to them so their children can ‘pass’.

By  Festus O. Odeyale

JAMB: CBT REDUCES EXAM MALPRACTICE

 

SOURCE:Google

The spate of examination malpractice in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations has reduced drastically. The report was disclosed by the The President of the Computer-Based Test Centre Proprietors Association of Nigeria (CPAN) during its press conference in Abuja. 

 The President of the association, Engineer Sage Udibuami stated that the recent deployment of the Computer-based Test (CBT) strategy contributed tremendously at eradicating cheating in examinations conducted by Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) since three years ago that the strategy was launched. He maintained that his association (CPAN) has no regret in partnering with the examination body.

He mentioned drastic reduction in all forms of  exam malpractice, no swapping of answer sheets, release of results within 24 hours and low recurrence of  leakage of question papers as some of the achievements. Udibuami made known the plan of CPAN following JAMB’s outcry, to invest in CBT so as to help close the gap of  infrastructural deficit in various examination centres throughout the nation.

2016 Nov/Dec WASSCE : An Improved Result

Source: Google.com


The result of private candidates who wrote the  2016 Nov/Dec West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) has been released. The result which was released on December 16,2016 shows an improvement in students' performance compared to what obtained in year 2014 and 2015.

Mr. Olu Adenipekun, who is the Head of the Nigeria National Office (HNO) of the council, said it was an improvement from the 29.37 per cent and 20.59 per cent in the two immediate preceding years respectively. He stated that a total of 66,497 (38.50 per cent) of the 172,699 candidates that sat for the examination obtained credits in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics.                       

175,699 candidates (99.31 per cent) of the 176,621 that were registered had their results fully processed and released.  But (0.69 per cent) representing 1,210 candidates have a few of their subjects being held due to some errors. The HNO further explained that such candidates may still have their results reconsidered and released by the examining council.       

Further analysis shows that:

 149,651 candidates (86.65 per cent ) have credits and above in two subjects

134,152 candidates (77.67 per cent) have credits and above in three subjects

116,133 candidates (67.25 per cent) have credits and above in four subjects

95,294 candidates (55.18 per cent) have credits and above in five subjects

72,229 (41.82 per cent) have credits and above in six subjects.

13,488 candidates (7.81 per cent) have their results being withheld for various cases of examination malpractice.

Ogun State Earmarks N70m For School Rehabilitation

Ogun state has earmarked the sum of 70million naira for the rehabilitation of public primary schools in the the year 2017.

The statement was made by the Chairman,  Ogun Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) during the presentation of the budget proposal to the Finance and Appropriation committee of the state's House of Assembly in Abeokuta.

Olatunde Okeowo disclosed that the amount would cover any occurrence of natural disaster in the public primary schools across the three senatorial districts of the state. According to him, the sum of N260.5 million would be used for the provision of consumable and non-consumable instructional materials, retraining of teachers and conduct of unified examination for primary schools. He further clarified that N1.5billion is for capital expenditure, while N580 million is budgeted for recurrent expenditure.

Oyo State: Razed School Structures Must Be Rebuilt By Parents

The Governor of Oyo State has stated that all schools' structures razed by student during the violent agitation for automatic promotion of students in the state must be rebuilt by the parents of children involved in the act. He made the statement during a programme in which the new education policy of the state was disclosed.

Ajimobi made known to the public that schools in the state will now be run by a Governing Board which implies that the communities and other stakeholders will be involved  in monitoring for efficiency and maintenance of high standards in schools. Th Governor posits that the era of automatic promotion is over and that 80% classroom attendance is now a pre-requisite for promotion. He said the move becomes necessary owing to the poor performance of students in public examinations since the year 1999. Ajimobi vowed that government would not order the re-opening of the razed schools unless rebuilt by the parents of the vandal students. 

Image Source: Google.com

While reiterating the abolition of automatic promotion of students in schools, Ajimobi added that 80 per cent attendance to classes had also become a pre-requisite for promotion.
“The statistics of our performance in public examinations since 1999 has been discouraging. It was therefore imperative that we arrest this situation and change our way of running schools, hence the need for new education policy.
“We therefore insisted on not promoting any student who failed to meet the pass criteria, yet you have some students who decided to raze their schools in protest to the no automatic policy.
“That is untoward and we won’t accept such act. The parents of those children who razed the schools will be responsible for the re-building of those schools. If they fail to rebuild those structures, we will not order the reopening of those schools that we shut. We won’t tolerate thuggery in our schools.
“In fact, 80 per cent attendance to classes by students is also a pre-requisite for promotion. Government alone cannot be responsible for the running of schools, so there must be participation of others in the management of schools. The school governing board means the community other stakeholders will be involved in monitoring for efficiency and maintenance of high standards in schools.
“The government will continue to employ teachers and our teachers must be re-trained to be more effective. However, the School Governing Board will monitor those teachers,” he said.
The event was attended by government officials, members of the state executive council, traditional rulers, Nigeria Union of Teachers, old boys’ associations, All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), students’ associations among others.

SEX FOR MARK: LECTURERS SACKED, DEMOTED

The Federal Government of Nigeria has sacked 13 Lecturers and demoted 16 others for various offences which border around sex for mark.
The accused persons were investigated and convicted of the wrongdoing by panel set up to look into their cases.
Prior to now, such misconduct by lecturers was rampant in tertiary institutions throughout the country and has never been treated in this manner. As a result, impunity was the order of the day. Many undergraduate students particularly the female have had torrid times with such randy lecturers who had adversely affected their academic plight and forced uncompromising students out of school.
In few schools, some victims sought justice through physical and criminal confrontation with such lecturers.
However, It is hoped that this stance by government would put the disgraceful lecturers in check.
   
 

 Source:google.com

CRIMINALISATION OF EXAMINATION MALPRACTICES

For the ultimate reason of restoring the pride of the Nigerian educational certificates and the protecting the image of any issuing institutions, it is inevitable and urgent to make laws to prosecute and jail culprits in order to deter others.

The unchecked appetite for certificates as a pre-condition for enjoying any opportunities is one of the causes. Over time, the nefarious acts have attained a dimension in which parties such as teachers, school heads, parents, staff of examining bodies and examination candidates now exchange money for certificates.

It is recommended that stringent penalties like the forfeiture of due (to-be-enjoyed)  benefits and restitution of the enjoyed benefits associated with the opportunities that any illegal certificates is used to acquire. All individual persons involved should be jailed accordingly and erring institutions thoroughly sanctioned.

VERIFICATION: GHOST WORKERS, GHOST SCHOOLS DELAY TEACHERS' SALARIES

 

Source: Google

The Bayelsa state government has attributed the delay in the payment of salaries of teachers in the state to the on-going verification exercise. It berates the payment scheme citing discrepancies and fraudulent activities in the payroll of the educational system.

According to the statement credited to the Secretary to the State Government, Serena-Dokubo Spiff, instances of fraudulent activities include discrepancy between approved salary vouchers and actual payment alerts received by teachers, cases of ghost teachers, ghost schools, fraudulent designation of status and fraudulent increment.

He however assured that payment will be effected as soon as the criminal practices are rooted out and the approved funds are released and made available for the purpose.

NEW MINIMUM WAGE: GOVERNMENT EXCLUDES TEACHERS

Teachers in the public primary schools in Edo state have raised alarm over their non-inclusion in the government's new minimum wage scheme.

The affected teachers through the Edo state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) decried how they have been discriminated against by the state government which paid their counterparts in the public secondary schools and other civil servants the new wage.

The government during its state broadcast on May 1st, 2016, to commemorate the international labour day pronounced a new minimum wage of  twenty-five thousand naira (N25,000) which is an  increment of seven thousand naira (N7,000).

However, the Secretary of the union in the state, Mr.Akin Adeojo urged the government to review the policy and reverse the decision.

POST-UTME: FLOUT DIRECTIVE AND BE SANCTIONED

Source: Google.

The Federal Government of Nigeria warned all tertiary institutions not to flout her directive banning the conduct of post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The warning was handed down by the minister of education following advertisements in some national dailies informing candidates to present themselves for the banned post-UTME exercise.

The exercise was scrapped on June 2, 2016 by the Federal Government as a pre-condition to gaining admission into universities and polytechnics. The decision was reached at the 2016 Combined Policy Meeting on Admission to Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions organised by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

The education minister, Adamu Adamu reiterated that the ban is with immediate effect and directed any institution which has already conducted the exercise to refund such candidates and the intending universities and polytechnics should desist from implementing it.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR RENOVATION SOON

The Lagos State government has made public its intention to renovate and re-construct public schools in the state.

The statement was made by the Deputy Governor during an educational event in the metropolis. Dr.Idiat Adebule said the decision was taken in order to make teaching and learning environment more attractive and conducive for students. She made clear that the exercise will be embarked upon during holiday in order not to disrupt the ongoing academic calendar.

OSUN STATE: CRISIS LOOMS IN SCHOOLS

Following the judgement of the state's high court passed within the week that female muslim students have a human right to wear Hijab in schools. The christian counterparts have decided also to do the same.

The Osun State Christian Association of Nigeria (OSCAN) has directed all its members and affiliates to mobilise all christian students and pupils in the state to put on their church robes and other religious uniforms to schools effective from Monday June 13, 2016. The decision is a response to the court's verdict on human rights of the female muslim students and pupils.

Stakeholders have expressed concerns on the fall-out of the judgement. That the judgement may destroy the education system in the state.

SCHOOL ELECTION: DO NOT MISPLACE THE PRIORITY.SCHOOLS, PARENTS URGED

The Chief Executive Officer of the Teaching & Impact firm cautioned parents and schools not to misplace the essence of election of students and pupils into elective posts in both primary and secondary schools.

He made the statement in a media chat with him in Lagos.Mr.Festus O. Odeyale stated that the practice of electing pupils and students into various positions as prefects such as Head-Boy/Girl, Time-keeper, Assembly and others have been since a long time. He said, that prior to the 21st century, prefects were imposed. But now, they are democratically elected by school mates.The Executive stressed that the art of campaign is what is different now, good and common in the private schools.

Mr.Festus observed that the democratic process as laudable as it is, has been abused and corrupted by both schools and parents. Money and giving of incentives to schoolmates to influence them and get their votes are now the new order. He frowned at it and urged all stakeholders to desist from it. He advised parents to avoid unnecessary and expensive wastage of resources in the name of support and campaign. He said that the beneficiaries though may not realise it now, but they are being taught and introduced into wrong social values.

According to him, "the essence is to train the children on leadership, not rulership, neither to set their mind on pecks or privileges of office. They should be taught about rendering service and not being hyped. not about competition among themselves".   

SCHOOL PRIVATISATION: LABOUR TO PARALYSE OYO STATE

Workers in Oyo state will embark on an indefinite strike from Tuesday, June 7, 2016 over the detainment of seven labour union leaders detained at the Agodi prison since friday till monday, June 7, 2016.

The detained persons were incarcerated for stalling the interactive stakeholders meeting billed to hold on June 1, 2016 between the state government and capitalists who were present at the venue and interested in taking over the proposed public primary and secondary schools schemed for sale to the public as contained in the published 'Expression Of  Interest' form on sale in the state's ministry of education.

Having perfected the bail condition and secured the release of the union leaders, the union vowed to embark on an indefinite strike beginning from Tuesday June 7, 2016. The union through one of its national leader stated conditions that the Oyo state government must meet before the industrial action will be called off. Among other things, it includes the reversal of the policy to sell public primary and secondary schools in the state.

The union also vowed to mobilise market women and men to join in the strike action. Already, students have joined labour to protest against the policy.

PRIVATISATION OF PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OYO STATE

 PRIVATISATION OF PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OYO STATE

The Oyo state government has made real her intention to privatise public secondary schools in the state.The decision might not be unconnected with the economic recession in the state. 'Exemption Of Interest' forms are officially made available for purchase in the state's ministry of education by interested persons and organisations.
The implication of this policy is that, more children may be denied access to education as some existing students in the affected schools may drop out due to inability to afford new and increased fees that will be charged by new owners.





Source: Google.com

PROPRIETRESS REJECTS PUBLICITY FOR FEAR OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

The Proprietress of a private nursery and primary school situated at abule egba in lagos, nigeria declined to speak with our correspondent who visited her school for an interview.
The Woman who does not want her identity and that of her school to be made public explained that the reason for her action is because of the government agencies which may pounce on her school to start to make demand both legitimate and illegal fees. She said publicity is good for them to showcase their works but for the various government agencies at both state and local government levels who may be unscrupulous.

She told our correspondent that she just concluded an issue with one of the agencies which demanded fines from them. she stated that it took God's intervention to get over it. The proprietress further lamented that the  government is not encouraging private schools in the state because of sundry fees and charges they demand from them. she complained of how she lost the former name of her school which was duly registered but according to the agency in charge was not renewed. And that the new name which the school now bears was recently registered and that she was told to make a yearly renewal of the registered name at a government-determined rate.

According to her, 'experiences like these would make schools remain silent about their affairs'.

SEASON OF EXTRA-CURRICULA ACTIVITIES

The Nigerian education system stipulates that elementary and secondary schools throughout the country should engage pupils/students in extra-curricular activities such as sports. Many schools are currently observing the yearly routine.

Extra Academic activities otherwise referred to as extra-curricular activities are officially organised by schools for students but the activities do not have academic credit. Participation in such activities is voluntary.

BENEFITS TO LEARNERS
Children's involvement in the activities help them to develop life skills.The key benefits include:

*Learning Time Management & Prioritisation Skill
The competitive and timing nature of the activities expose and enable children to acquire such skills

*Diverse Interest
It gives opportunity to children to learn and express interest in other areas of life apart from academic.

*Commitment
Participation in extra-curricular activities trains children on how to express or demonstrate commitment in to any course in life.

*Self Esteem
It builds self esteem in children through participation. Inferiority complex is also addressed and corrected through  the measure.

*Relationship Management 
Children learn how to build and nurture relationship with others.

*Profile Enrichment
 It adds more value to the worth of a child in term of capacity or potential for other activities besides  academic works.

Lassa Fever And The Sudden Embrace Of Cats




Source: Wallpapertopics.com

Since the outbreak of Lassa Fever and the discovery that a particular specie of rats is the carrier of the virus,  more persons and organisations including varsities in Nigeria have resorted to the use of Cats against rats in communities to checkmate the spread of the disease. 

Lassa Fever  claims more lives each day across the country as more states now record their first instances of victims. 

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