Jeunesse Youth Empowerment Initiative (JYE Initiative) has commended the Federal Ministry of Education for the decision to reopen exit classes on August 4. It however urged the Ministry to take a holistic approach to ensure inclusiveness, accountability and transparency in managing the education sector during this pandemic.

According to a statement issued in Lagos and signed by its Team Lead, Mr. Ridwan Sulaimon, the group said: “While the decision to reopen schools for exist classes is commendable, it raises pertinent questions and poses some other challenges for the education sector generally.

“Therefore, the Ministry should not only communicate its decisions, but also proactively provide rationale for such decisions and the plan to cushion the effects of the decision in other areas of the sector. This will enable better feedback process and effective planning by all stakeholders.”

Sulaimon said: “Although we appreciate the fact that delaying SSCE for instance till another year may impact negatively on the results as such exam which covers virtually everything learnt in secondary school is better written when the knowledge is still fresh. However, with the daily reported cases of COVID-19, students who have lost about half a session already may end up losing another half, thus implying that they may end up remaining in their current class after a year, while those in the exit classes would have moved up in the ladder.

“Therefore, we urge the Ministry to address the following questions in its subsequent communications: What are the plans to balance the system such that if the students in exit classes write SSCE or similar examinations, what will be the implication for JAMB and the universities who will have to deal with double number of admission seekers as those who wrote the UTME for this year may have to be merged in the admission process with the current SSCE students who will write UTME next year? If we have two sets of students in the admission process when the tertiary institutions already do not have the capacity to fully absorb a set, how do we deal with the existing corruption that this tough race will further trigger in the admission process?

“How would the Ministry address the issue of vacant SSS3 classes when the SS2 counterparts did not promote? Is there a plan for mass promotion or rushing to finish the remaining scheme of work for the session across boards and what will be the implication of such for a country with falling standards of education? Is the Ministry planning to redesign the schools calendar to accommodate these gaps? What are the specific safety protocols that will be put in place to prevent the spread of the virus among students, teachers, examiners and parents?”

JYE Initiative noted that while it is understandable that the COVID-19 context makes everything unstable, a responsible government should always have plans and should endeavor to communicate such plans to stakeholders so that everyone can plan accordingly.

It said: “The idea of announcing a decision in a military-fiat style regardless of whose ox is gored and without considerations for affected stakeholders should not be an approach of a civilian government”.

The organization added that: “The education sector needs to be approached holistically during this critical time and there is no easy way out. Government should not be found addressing problems only as it comes without putting the whole sector and the bigger picture in perspectives.

“Transparency, accountability and inclusiveness especially during this pandemic situation is more in the interest of the duty bearers as it helps to build the needed trust among the right bearers and other stakeholders. It also enables effective feedback processes that would aid the government in solving problems. To successfully manage the education sector through this pandemic without creating another crisis post COVID-19, the FME needs to be more forthcoming with transparency, accountability and inclusiveness.”

•