Indicting Exam Questions : Amosun Sacks Perm. Sec., Examiner and 3 others

Wale Shodipe

‎The acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education as well as four other officials including the examiner  who set exam questions considered to be indicting to the administration of Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, have been sacked.

Joel Adegbenro, an Examiner,  who also teaches at May Flower Secondary School Ikenne, had prepared English language exam questions for the third term academic session of the state’s Unified Examination in Public Secondary Schools which was considered “indicting and offensive to the Governor. The question which  aptly captured the deplorable state of education in the gateway state infuriated Amosun and he ordered that the permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Folashade Oresegun, three directors and Adegbenro be sacked.

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‎A passage in the English language questionnaire exposed the rot in the ministry and asked the students to share their opinions too.

Here is the passage in the English Language Examination for Secondary schools in Ogun State which took place  on July 25, 2015 ‎.

“There is no arguing the fact that the government is merely paying up lip service to the development of education in Ogun State. It is true that a lot of money is being spent on education in Ogun State but with little or no impact felt by the people, except where we want to deceive ourselves. Many schools run by the government, which were formerly known for academic excellence have suddenly lost their prestige and are living on past glories. No wonder, many parents at threateningly left with one option, to withdraw their wards from these schools to other ones that are better managed.

“The evidences to show that the government is not doing enough to assist in the development of education are many. Even pupils in both primary and secondary schools can volunteer a good list on their finger tips.

“One of the numerous indications is government’s inability to pay running costs to schools. The running is the token amount per pupil paid to school administrators to run the affairs of the school in a term. This has been neglected to pile up in several academic sessions. Another one is the regular poor conduct of examinations.

“These examinations are not usually conducted as at when due. The government may have one excuse or the other , but real educationists know that appreciate timing is a strong factor in the process of Continuous Assessment (CA) of students. Thus a situation, where for instance, the First Term Examination is Shifted to Second Term is an outright departure from the norms and ethics of conduct of Continuous Assessment.

“In addition to the above facts is the idea of not issuing dossiers; a paper of the students academic endeavours within the term, to the students and parents alike as at when due. In fact, if one begins to mention the issue of unpaid salaries to teachers, one may be seen as speaking on behalf of these teachers to discredit the government. Yet, not in the least is the issue of the neglect of schools facilities which are now in sorry and dilapidated state.”

The students were asked to answer the following questions based on the passage above‎.

“In three sentences, one for each, state the evidences given by the writer to prove that the government is not doing enough to assist in the development of education.”

‎NigerianEcho gathered that Amosun summoned the permanent Secretary and other senior officials of the ministry to explain why they would allow such questions to be set for students. Not satisfied with their explanation, Amosun sacked the permanent Secretary, Oresegun, Adegbenro , Ganiu Odunsi and Mr. Majekodunmi, a deputy director, curriculum and evaluation.