The Edo State government has dropped its plan to make JSS3 pupils in private schools in the state to write their examinations in schools different from their own.
The change of plan by the government followed protests by the parents of the pupils.
In a statement by F. J. Okundamiya,
Secretary-General of the parents association, he said that following the intervention of their BOT Chairman, Martins Osakue and other principal officers of the association, the prayers of the parents were granted by the Commissioner of Education Mrs Joan Oviawe.
The statement reads : “That we will have the BECE (JSS 3) Examinations written in our schools
” That the BECE (JSS 3) Examinations are hereby shifted to a later date to be announced by the MOE. This is to enable schools to complete their scheme of work for the term .
” That the site will be reopened immediately to allow school principals/owners who are yet to complete the registration of their pupils/students for Primary 6 and JSS 3 Examinations do so, given a grace period of two weeks.
“Other issues bordering on the smooth running of our schools were also addressed with a view to seeking our opinion in all education-related matters forthwith.
“However, Primary 6 Examination earlier scheduled for this Saturday will now hold on Saturday, 13th May, 2023.”
The parents and proprietors of the private schools on Tuesday called for a protest to drive their points home.
Earlier on Monday, a parent and a lecturer at the University of Benin, Prof.Stella Roy-Omonigho wrote a petition to the commissioner of education and urged her to rescind the descion.
In the story that was reported by New Times,
Prof. Roy-Omonigho said that she wrote on behalf of parents of JSS3 private schools’ pupils in Edo State
She urged that teachers and not pupils should be the ones to be transferred.
The letter dated May 1,2023 and addressed to the Commissioner of Education, Edo State, by Roy-Omonigho reads:”The Commissioner of Education, Edo State.
“Re: Junior Secondary School 3 State Examinations; Matters Arising.
“Your recent directives regarding the afore-referenced topic have caused ripples for the various stakeholders involved, who include students, parents, teachers and private school proprietors.
You have recently directed without recourse to the implications or adverse effect on the various participants in the displacement and unplanned mass movement of private schools‘ JS3 students to write their long-awaited JS3 state examination outside their regular designated learning environment.
“Via this medium we would like to bring to your notice the unmitigated and unforeseen consequences that could jeopardise your good intentions towards the academic welfare of our children under your astute watch.These include but are not limited to the following:
Present national insecurity, logistics (cost and risk of transportation), the dearth of basic amenities in some of these schools such as chairs and tables, potential psychological trauma meted out to students from being displaced, potential psychological trauma on parents stemming from the fear of the unknown.
“Your directive being in the public domain could be used by persons with inimical or nefarious intentions towards these children.As good as your intentions are, the above listed implications could hamper the performance and success of our children in the forthcoming examinations. In order to forestall this we ask that you consider the following:
“Like what is applicable in Senior Secondary School examinations where teachers and not students could be deployed to various schools. This way, whatever the end objective of your directive could still be achieved without risk to the welfare of our children most of whom are tender in age and far outnumber teachers.
“Thank you in anticipation of your response in the affirmative towards our concerns for our children and their academic success which is our collective primary objective.”
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