By Polycarp Sola
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examinations for 2019/2020 academic year commences within the West African Region of which Nigeria is inclusive.
However, before the lockdown order on schools and the suspension of other public activities, students of the senior secondary schools as well as their counterparts in Junior Secondary School and Primary six pupils across the country were preparing for the 2019/2020 final year examinations.
The commencement of the final year examinations had received reactions from different angles, as some persons viewed the development as ill timed due to the fact that schools which had been under the lockdown order suddenly resumed with the examinations
the views further predicted that most public and private schools across the country would either engage in examinations Malpractices or a backlash that might lead to mass failure.
During the monitoring of the examinations exercise in some areas of the state, a private school owner, Mr Ezeali Egwilo, the Proprietor of Teresa Montessori School at Mgbom, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State said
"The E-Learning that the government instructed that we should do is for those who can afford Android phone and those who are available, many of the candidates who are inside the hall now, suddenly resurfaced, after five months, no form of revision has been conducted, it's a very sad situation,
"I pity these children because there's going to be mass failure in this exams, God forbid but that's what I am suspecting, it's going to be worst than what it was before now, there is no time and in addition to that, things are very difficult for them but neverthless, we shall do our best"
Mr Ezeali who lamented that at the moment his students could not afford the high cost of chemicals for thier practical exams also wondered how their performances would be.
Meanwhile, principals of some of the public schools in Ebonyi State have expressed a different view concerning the foretold examinations Malpractices and the fear over mass Failure in the state,
citing the radio teaching program initiated by the government of Ebonyi State as well as the two weeks revision classes held in public schools within the state before the commencement of the exams.
The State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Egwu Francis Elechi had earlier lauded Governor David Umahi for his proactivenes in ensuring that schools are safe for resumption, as well as his magnanimity in the supply of personal protective equipments (PPE) to students and teachers in the state,
Comrade Elechi who doubles as the Chairman of the Safe School Resumption Committee set by the state government, said that he was a part of the radio teaching program while it lasted, adding that students in public schools within the state have been encouraged to listen to thier radio and recieve teachings while at home during the lockdown,
Egwu added that examination Malpractice is like stealing, and every child that has the tendency to steal, no matter how well he or she is given, the child would still steal.
The Principal of Ntezi Community School, Mr. Onwe Samuel, the Principal of Community Boys High School Ezillo, Mr Onigbinde Oyetunde disagreed with the Predicted mass failure as well as the tendecies for Mal practices.
They said "We had our normal class room lessons before the COVID 19, we prepared for the exams before the lockdown, even when we resumed, we started intensive lessons to refresh thier minds to where they ought to be"
"We really thank His Excellency the governor of Ebonyi state, I am one of those that was involved in the radio television program,
and I found out from my students, that they really listened to it,I believe that it went a long way in their preparation for the examinations".
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