Kudos, knocks greet Oyo govt. plan to stop payment of WASSCE fees

When the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) threatened to withhold the results of candidates in 19 states over a huge debt of N4 billion, little did stakeholders and parents know it would result to the backing out of some of these states from one of their policies – free education which has been “feasted” on for years.

For several years, different states included free education in their manifestoes and they propagated it to the delight of the people.

When it was reported, WAEC revealed it would not disclose the debtor states, but warned that the result of candidates from the affected states won’t be released alongside others. True to its promise, some results were released and others were held. But days later after much pressure, rush and appeal from stakeholders, the results were released

The Ogun State government was quick to off-set its bill the moment the announcement was made but several weeks later an announcement by the Oyo State government stated that it would stop sponsoring candidates for the West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examinations.

It quoted dearth of fund in the state and the need to tackle the dreadful performance of candidates in external examination.

Not only that, the government also in a statement signed by the State’s Head of Service, Soji Eniade disclosed that with effect from the 2015/2016 academic session, students would henceforth pay the sum of N3,000 annually as Education Development Levy (EDL).

According to the statement; “With effect from the 2015/2016 academic session, the State Government would stop any further payment of WAEC registration fees due to the current financial status of the state”.

The statement further said that the payment of the EDL, which would be in three installments of N1, 000 per term, would be utilised to compliment government’s effort at improving the infrastructure of public secondary schools.

The statement added that the State Government had completed arrangements to partner with interested stakeholders in the management and administration of public secondary schools.

Further explanation of the new policy indicates that promotional examination would be re-introduced while mock examinations would also be conducted before the final secondary school examination.

All these, the government explained, would prepare the candidates for WASSCE and put a stop to the poor performance of the state candidates.

While corroborating the stand of the statement, the Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi, said that the decision was temporary, adding that as soon as the state finance improves, his government would revert to the old order.

He also said the decision to introduce the levy was taken after it was discovered that parents were no longer involved in the educational development of their children. Ajimobi said the Parents Teachers Association, community leaders and individual parents were engaged in a discussion before arriving at the decision.

“The state government studied all the aspects of education and we asked ourselves questions on what could be responsible for the abysmal performance of our candidates in the WASSCE. We found out that among other things, many of the parents did not bother to care for their children.

“Training of children is not a sole responsibility of government or teachers, parents must play their roles too. We discussed with the parents and realised that since parents were not in anyway involved in the education of their children, they did not bother about what happened to them.

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“Parents should show concern about their children’s education. We set up a committee to discuss with PTA, community leaders, individual parents and so on. Interestingly, many of the parents felt that if they were also contributing by paying a token, they would pay attention to the education of their children.

“With the paucity of fund for the state, we had to face the reality that we cannot continue to sponsor children without involving their parents in a way. This was why we introduced the developmental levy but it’s just for a period of time, as soon as things improve for the state financially, we will put it down. It is an emergency situation that we must address,” the governor added.

However, the policy has received backlash from various sectors in the state with some calling on government to reduce its spending on less important ventures in order to help indigent students who cannot afford to pay WASSCE fee. Others are of the opinion that the state’s education policy of shouldering responsibilities of parents would not offer quality education in the short and long run.

Chairman of the PTA in the state, Jimoh Abiodun, said the state carried it along before taking the decision. He also appealed to other parents to consider the poor finance of the state.

He said, “The government called us to several meetings explaining the current situation and how it had to adjust its spending. We cannot do anything about it. The government is the owner of the schools and the children belong to the parents. We have to cooperate to give the children good education. All we can do is to urge the parents to pay the levy and their children WASSCE fee. We have to adjust to the new situation.”

Hallmark newspaper gathered reactions from some parents who stated that the move would be a blessing in disguise.

Mr Talabi Oriyomi stated that the move is a good one and it should be lauded. He added that the standard of education has fallen because parents no longer value the importance of education because they are being assisted by government in funding their children’s fees.

“Parents should be allowed to start investing in their children’s education; some of these parents do not even check the result of their kids after the term. When an individual sweat to pay for a commodity, it is treasured. Government has nothing to do with the payment of WASSCE fee; it’s the role of parents. That way, they will monitor the progress of their children” he said.

Mrs Adeshina Sade said that though she is not happy about parents who don’t take their kids education seriously because they are being assisted to pay examination fees but it is the function and responsibilities of the government to cater for education of students.

“There is no harm in government paying for the payment of examination of candidates because the decision could result to student not completing their education because their parent can’t afford the fees. Some parents are not keen in their kids receiving western education” she added

Quoting the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, Waheed Olojede, he said that government had acted on the advice of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in the state for the benefit of quality education.

He said, “Free education should not extend to payment of external examination fee for candidates. What we are saying is, now that the government has come out to hold the bull by the horn, it has taken the advice offered by the Nigeria Union of Teachers over the years. Such fund used for WASSCE fee payment should have been committed to strengthen and improve the quality of instructional materials and infrastructural facilities; such that our schools will wear the look we are used to in those days. Schools must be pupil-and-teacher friendly.”

Olojede added that the government should use the money it is saving to equip laboratories, libraries and prioritise the welfare of teachers. He said the principle and practice of education recognise parents as major stakeholders.

“They should be allowed to take responsibility and be committed. When the results are released, students and parents do not bother about the results because they have no stake in it. If parents take responsibility, they will be concerned about their children’s preparations and results. It’s a laudable decision,” Olojede said, while also urging parents to face the reality of the state poor finance and pay the EDL of N3000 per session towards education of their children.