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STAKEHOLDERS have expressed concern over the low registration of candidates in the 2021 National Common Entrance Examinations (NCEE) into unity schools.
The stakeholders expressed their concerns in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.
NAN recalls that the council had on May 19, rescheduled its examination initially scheduled for May 29 to June 5, as approved by the Federal Ministry of Education.
The ministry said the re-schedule exercise became necessary to give states with low registration of candidates the opportunity to register their candidates for the examination.
However, the investigation showed that this had not increased the registration of candidates as many people believed that the low level of registration was due to insecurity in the country.
The stakeholders said they were apprehensive about the safety of their wards and would not consider any entrance for now until they were assured of their safety.
Mr Samson Adebayo, a father of four, said that many parents would not want to risk the lives of their children and wards in the hands of bandits and kidnappers who had now focused on kidnapping in schools.
Adebayo said the Federal Government must make efforts to address the protracted security challenges affecting all sectors of the nation’s economy.
“The general insecurity in the country, particularly the bandits that have made schools their main target is worrisome and can cause the lack of interest in the unity schools.
“Also the recent happenings have shown that the criminal elements target the students and teachers while demanding ransom from poor parents and teachers.
“This development will not encourage any parent to send their children to government schools,” he said.
Adebayo noted that government could not tackle the situation alone, adding that relevant stakeholders should assist schools within their domains on intelligence gathering and surveillance to avert future occurrences.
Mrs Faith Chukwuemeka, a secondary school teacher lamented the spate of kidnapping resulting in incessant killings of school children in the country.
Chukwuemeka said called on governments at all levels to formulate strategies to tackle the menace in the country.
Mrs Ochuole Simeon, a parent, said that she had to withdraw her child from unity school due to so many misgivings and apprehension.
Simeon said she could no longer trust the safety of her child even though the government insisted on providing security in all the schools.
She also noted that many homes were facing hardship and could hardly meet the essential needs of their families.
Simeon said this could also result to low registration, adding “if the home front is financially stable; the education of the children will be paramount.
“When the parents are finding it difficult to provide for the basics in homes, how can they fund the education of their children?
“The pandemic also has a serious effect on the economy of the nation which ultimately translates to the eroding of purchasing power of citizens and this has affected financing the education children.’’
Simeon however tasked stakeholders, community leaders, and parents to join hands with the security agencies to ensure safe and peaceful learning in schools. (NAN)
– May 24, 2021 @ 18:11 GMT
Tags: Stakeholders attribute insecurity to low registration in 2021 NCEE
