We don’t need discriminatory cut-off marks in Unity Schools – Lexington proprietor

THE proprietor of Lexington Group of Schools, Mebamu, Okokomaiko, Lagos, Mr. J.O. Bass Musa, has condemned the discriminatory cut-off marks for admission into Federal Government Colleges  otherwise known as Unity Schools across the country, saying government is not sincere to improve falling standard of education in Nigeria.

In his speech at the Graduation ceremony of the schools, he noted that discriminatory cut-off marks for pupils coming from the north and south which had been on for so many years were political.

"Presently, the issue of cut-off points in admission into Unity Schools and the relevance of NECO were rife in the media which government had looked at on political levels and not every sincere on these issues. As a result, parents/guardians have always been deceived when seeking admission for the wards and children," he said.

According to Musa, the most unfortunate aspect of this issue is that most parents do not know what they are really looking for when they are choosing secondary schools for their children..

"In my mind, pupils should be admitted on merit, not on politically determined quota system where by cut-off marks for pupils from Northern states are far lower while those from the Southern states are much more high. Efforts should be made to improve education standard in these disadvantaged (northern) states so that they can meet up with pupils from southern advantaged states instead of this political approach of discriminatory admission cut-off points."

He argued that it was because of such discrimination without regard for merit that some pupils are not qualified to gain admission into higher institutions which had also led  to the falsification of age, results and certificates.

He pointed out that teaching a class, for example, Junior Secondary School one (Basic 1), where secondary school life begins, cannot be easy, because of discrimination and catchment areas whereby 60% of dull pupils in a class of 45 students, definitely  teachers will find it difficult to carry along very dull ones with the brilliant ones at the same time because they can never meet up.
He said the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has not respect for catchment areas when marking SSCE papers. This could be the reason also for NECO having mass failure of students in their examination.

"It is really dangerous for the Federal Government to continue to play politics with education in this country while efforts should be made to ensure that higher institutions adhere strictly to the areas whey are set up to cover."

The Head Boy, Master Kotey Ebenezer, on behalf of his fellow graduands thanks God for allowing them successfully complete their secondary school education, and the proprietor, Mr. Bass Musa for his love, care and trust in managing the school. He also thanked the teachers and principal for doing their best "in impacting knowledge unto us and it was in Lexington that I found out that teachers were our second parents in life."

The Graduation ceremony, attended by parents and guardians, witnessed displays of traditional and cultural dances, songs, speech making, merriment and awards of prizes for academic achievements, character and service. Some deserving teachers were also recognised and honoured, while brilliant pupils who excelled in their examinations were offered scholarships.