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Why students fail WASSCE (2)

Over the years, Nigeria has recorded poor performance of students that sat for West African Senior School Certificate Examination. More students seem to fail English and Mathematics. For example, in the 2015 examinations, less than 45 percent of students who sat for the examination passed with credit. ENCOMIUM Weekly spoke with teachers, principals and parents on why students fail WASSCE.

 

TEACHERS

MRS. ABODERIN

What do you think is responsible for mass failure in WASSCE?

I will blame it on a lot of factors. First, is the school system we have nowadays. There are a lot of schools out there but they are mere white elephants. Some are empty.

They don’t have good standard. Some of them believe in helping their students during exams. Once the students know there is a special arrangement for them, they wouldn’t bother to read again.

Students are also fond of abbreviation in examinations. They would have forgotten they are not writing for the social media.

What is the way out?

Parents should not leave teachers to do the work alone. It is a supposed to be a combined effort. They should also monitor their children. They shouldn’t be too busy to follow them up.

Why is it that students fail Mathematics and English more than other subjects?

Many students fail English because of abbreviations. They fail Mathematics because of the phobia they have for it.

 

MRS. ADEOLA MICHAEL

What do you think is responsible for mass failure in WASSCE?

It all starts from the parents. Some parents indulge their children. Some will not even take out time to go through their children’s book. Once the problem starts from SS1, it will be too late to correct in SS3.

Schools are also not left out, they don’t want students to fail because of exorbitant fees they charge. Students shouldn’t fail under such condition.

What is the way out?

Schools should set standards and stick to them. Parents should assist in grooming their children. They should encourage them to perform better in school.

Why is it that students fail Mathematics and English more than other subjects?

Students fail English and Mathematics because they think they are difficult subjects. It is just in their mentality and once they see them as difficult, they can’t pass them. There is no way they will pass them. Maths is the simplest subject. It is an everyday thing. They encounter it daily.

 

CELLA FUSI

What do you think is responsible for mass failure in WASSCE?

A lot of students find if it difficult to grasp things. Aside that, students don’t study again. They believe they can find answers on the internet. Some parents contribute to their children’s failure. In some cases, some parents encourage their children to go to special centres for their exams.

What is the way out?

Teachers should monitor their students well. They should encourage them when they find a subject difficult. Schools should discourage examination malpractices. I could remember an external invigilator once asked us in the school where I work if we wanted help for our students. We told him no, that we prepared them ahead for the exams.

It is a combined effort of the teachers, students, parents and school authorities. The system is also bad. It should be corrected. Just imagine an external invigilator encouraging a school to do exam malpractice.

Parents should stop pushing their children through school, because some parents insist you put their children in their choice class.

Why is it that students fail Mathematics and English more than other subjects?

Many students feel English is very simple, so they take instructions for granted. I am not saying English is not simple, but they need to be careful. English is dynamic, students need to be careful.

 

PRINCIPALS

BAYO AKINWOLA

What do you think is responsible for mass failure in WASSCE?

So many factors are responsible. It could be on the part of the parents, students or the type of school such students attend. The environment is another factor.

School facilities are over stretched. Some students receive lectures standing. Parents also indulge their children to look for special centres. Some will even drive their children there.

If teachers are not well catered for, they wouldn’t give their best. Look at some states, they are owing their teachers up to four months’ salary. How will such give his or her best?

What is the way out?

Everybody should come to the rescue. Government should provide facilities, students should work hard at school. They should not indulge their children.

Why is it that students fail Mathematics and English more than other subjects?

Mathematics is a dreaded subject. Once the foundation is not solid it will affect the student.

Some students don’t like their teachers. There is no how you will teach such a child and the child will pass.

 

MRS. FELICIA ADEOLA

What do you think is responsible for mass failure in WASSCE?

I will blame the students. Social media has made things worse. Ask a student to sing the most popular song on radio, they will even dance to it. But when it comes to their studies, they wouldn’t perform well.

Parents have their own fault but I believe there is no parent that would like to waste his hard earned money on school fees.

What is the way out?

Students should sit up and read their books. Parents should contribute to the progress of their children.

Why is it that students fail Mathematics and English more than other subjects?

It is about their mind. Some don’t have the right attitude and mind set towards the subjects.

 

PARENT

MRS. OWONIYI

What do you think is responsible for mass failure in WASSCE?

I will blame the students and school authorities. Students don’t do enough when it comes to studying. Schools also don’t teach well. They just collect money from parents.

What is the way out?

The education sector should be looked into. They should do more to put things in place, both school authorities and the government.

Why is it that students fail Mathematics and English more than other subjects?

I think they are not well prepared for those two subjects. Some schools manage teachers instead of getting qualified professionals for those the subjects.

Encomium

Written by Encomium

A media, tech and events company.

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