Nigeria: Outrage Over Unity Schools Cut-Off Marks 27 June 2013 , By Boco Edet And Judd-Leonard Okafor, Source: Daily Trust When a controversial list with the cut-off points for admissions into the 104 Federal Government Colleges was leaked on the internet, early in June, many Nigerians expressed shock, anger and unbelief at its content. What sparked off the emotions was the wide disparity in cut-off scores between northern and southern states. With children, whether male or female, expected to score between 130-139 in states like Abia, Anambra, Delta, Enugu and Imo, in states like Zamfara, Yobe, Sokoto and Taraba children who scored as low as two could gain admission. The list which has since been confirmed by the office of the Minister of State for Education, responsible for federal government colleges has sparked off a serious debate: where should merit give way for federal character? A general lack of capacity is what unity colleges have been fighting against in recent years to push up student population. Long periods of unattended dilapidation and squalor prompted minister of state Nyesom Wike, who is responsible for unity schools, to say people are running away because the schools are not what they used to be. Funding alterations ensuring that spending concentrates on only a handful on schools in batches means more infrastructure for these unity colleges. But that was before. This year, more than 87,555 students sat for common entrance tests in 432 centres organised by NECO nationwide. On same day, Wike spoke of satisfaction that, people are beginning to pick up interest in federal government colleges. In previous years, people lost hope but what government is doing is renewing hope. But cut-off scores have never elicited outrage as this year. The manner for selecting and placing students in 104 unity colleges is on three considerations: 30% on merit, 30% by state quota and a third 30% on basis of geographical location and factors as areas short on facilities. Wike came out against 30% merit as not encouraging excellence calling for an increase to 60%. But that was not to be the case, at least not this year. Since the wide-spread criticisms about the list, many explanations have been made regarding the disparities. Unofficial comments from the Federal Ministry of Education revealed that asides the laid down criteria for admission into the colleges, special consideration was given to northern areas facing serious security challenges and which have become more educationally disadvantaged owing to the Boko Haram attacks. Again, while there are more candidates that can be admitted scurrying for unity schools like Kings College, Queens College, Federal Government College, Enugu and Port-Harcourt, schools in Yobe, Sokoto Adamawa, Borno and others do not have candidates. Considering these challenges, Mustapha Abdul who is head of NECO in Abuja said, states like Yobe may not even meet up on state quota alone talk less of merit and other factors. States like Lagos ... that is where the formula will even be more effective. This year, where Yobe fielded only 86 candidates, Lagos had over 23,000 students. But the number of passes determines how many students are admitted, meaning each state gets a different cut-off depending on how brilliant the students in the state are. Even after a student scales through based on merit, there are still three other factors to be considered: state quota, environment and exigency, Abigail Anaba, a public commentator explained. Shehu Ilyasu an education official from Bauchi State said because the colleges are federal, the principle of federal character must apply but merit must still come to play. We are saying let those from the educationally disadvantaged states compete among themselves and get reasonable points before they can be admitted and then there should still be waivers so that with time we would be at equal level. Another civil servant from Kano who simply identified himself as Fateh said, the exposure of all these environments, the way education came into these places, the way learning takes place would make up what is supposed to be the disparity. It has to be like that because those people in the South they are more exposed to what would push them forward educationally and you know the way education is accepted over there is not the same in the North that is why there is the disparity. If at all we want the North to catch up there is need for some form of encouragement. But beyond whether or not the disparity is justified, the consensus is a lot still needs to be done to improve the state of education in northern states. Says Anaba: What we really need is an intervention programme at the primary level. A lot of work has to be done as far as recruiting and training teachers is concerned if the educational system is to wear a new look. Since unity schools must admit from all states, something has to be done to improve standards in all states, Tunde Adefolaju said. He said state governments are responsible for falling standards. Compromise with unity schools were intended as a stop-gap measure over 40 years ago, while states improved their standards, Adefolaju said. m.allafrica/stories/201306271341.html/
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 07:59:16 +0000
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