The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and some parents have expressed worry about the underperformance of their students, as compared to their Ghanaian counterparts who performed satisfactorily in the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Describing the development as a ‘big shame’, the Union asked for the 2020 WASSCE’s result to be a wake-up call to recondition the Nigeria education system.
In March 2021, Ghana swept all the top three International Excellence awards instituted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) which seeks to honour candidates with outstanding performance in WASSCE.
The trio, Cecil Tetteh Kumah, Godfred Aseda Obeng and Afua Manukure Ansah took first, second and third position respectively and were awarded at the 69th annual council meeting of the organisation in Accra.
Reacting to this in an interview on Nigerian Tribune, the General Secretary of NUT, Dr Mike Ene said for Ghana to sweep all the awards is worrying.
“For only Ghana winning gold, silver and bronze medals in the same examination written by countries like Nigeria which presented almost about 70 per cent of the total candidates is not good enough for Nigerian image,” he said.
NUT scribe explained that gone were the days when the standard of education in Ghana was below that of Nigeria.
“Ghana had to strive to make things work to the extent that the country is now attracting many international students including Nigerians into its schools while only a few foreign students, if any at all, come to study in Nigerian schools.
“So, it is all about vision, about political will, determination and commitment particularly on the part of the government,’ he added.
The National President of Nigeria’s Parent- Teacher Association of Nigeria, (NPTAN), Haruna Danjuma on his part, bemoaned Nigeria’s education system which has been characterised by incessant strikes by various academic and non-academic workers.
He also raised concern about inadequate infrastructure, learning tools, low morale amongst workers, students’ laziness, and above all, poor government funding.
Mr Danjuma, therefore, stated that until government approaches the issue holistically Nigeria will continue to lag behind in the education sector.
