see link below;
http://www.channelstv.com/home/2012/05/18/mass-failure-too-much-emphasis-on-maths-and-english-educationists/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

*So sorry, I COULDN'T COPY AND PASTE. It wasn't working out copying to paste. Kindly read through the link. My system is behaving funny.

[size=14pt]Mass failure: Too much emphasis on Mathematics and English-Educationists[/size]

Channels TelevisionDele BraimohMass Failure In ExaminationsNECONigerian Education SectorWaec
It has been found that fear and anxiety are the major factors hindering candidates from excelling in external examinations especially in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examination Council (NECO) among others.

According to the former President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Dr. Saidu Mijinyawa, in an interview with the punch newspaper, “The country is consecutively hostage with high failure rate in WASSCE and NECO because of fear/anxiety before and during learning and exam periods due to overblown importance of mathematics and English over other subjects or even above the existence of the person. This is due to the fact that those who fail any of them are denied access to further their tertiary education in the name and on the account that they have no credits in English and mathematics.”

Also, Speaking on factors bedevilling Nigeria’s education sector, the UNESCO Chairman, Open Distance Learning, University of South Africa, Prof. Dele Braimoh, at a recent workshop in Lagos said “the emphasis placed on both subjects was a deliberate act by both exam bodies…the emphasis on the two subjects has made the exam bodies and authorities use that as a means of earning their living from desperate candidates or parents who are left with no other option than to annually return to them for another registration. If it is not what they are doing, why would a huge percentage of candidates fail mathematics this year and all candidates pass English, then next year, all candidates will fail English and pass mathematics? Why?”

The Professor further said “too much emphasis on paper qualification affects the reasoning of candidates…I think we have placed too much emphasis on paper qualification. These candidates are told that if they don’t make all their papers, they would not enter the university. Now, it’s either they study, cram or cheat. And just a few of them actually study. A large percentage of them just want to cheat their way through these external exams and get into the university. Their focus is on making their complete papers.”

For the education sector to be revived, Braimoh said those in power must begin to see education as the key to achieving social-economic development, “The education sector is what it is because the Federal Government has commercialised education… The government is not putting things right. ..this sector should be seen as an area of great concern. But it’s hard for those in power to think in this line when they have their children abroad…”

Cosmos Obiozele, who wrote WASSCE last year, said his disinterest in Mathematics had triggered his failure. “I’ve never liked mathematics. Even when the exam was approaching, I had no strong interest to study. I did not put in much effort like I did for other subjects, because I knew I would fail it. May be if my teachers had helped me work on my fear for Mathematics, I would have done much better.”

The kin educators we get for this country na wa. All their PHD and this na wetin person dey read from this man as reason for the mass failures?

...

Kobojunkie: The kin educators we get for this country na wa. All their PHD and this na wetin person dey read from this man as reason for the mass failures?

lol @ that. Methinks, too that the reasons for their mass failure are much more than 'fear and anxiety'... Lack of good teachers could be one of the factors responsible. Also, poor environment..

...

gbogboti: see link below;
http://www.channelstv.com/home/2012/05/18/mass-failure-too-much-emphasis-on-maths-and-english-educationists/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

*So sorry, I COULDN'T COPY AND PASTE. It wasn't working out copying to paste. Kindly read through the link. My system is behaving funny.

Nice one...in addition, anoda cause of mass failure nt mentioned is BOKO HARAM!! Please, dnt ask me how...

itproman: These guys are simply chasing rats when Nigeria's education sector is on fire! The problem here is the standards of learning, the quality of teachers, the lack of supervision and monitoring by standards organizations even with increased budget, the parents who allow these kids to 2go and bb and africa magic and big brother instead of study, the government who distracts the family's priority a lot by inflicting poverty, joblessness and corruption etc. Call a spade a spade...

God bless you. Very well stated

This is such a poor excuse for the rot in the educational system. Haven't people written and passed Maths and English in the past, why is this a problem now. As someone pointed out, the standard of learning has dropped drastically. Its so bad that even University graduates cannot speak or write correctly. We make such flimsy excuses as to why that is the case e.g. English is not my first language. Agreed. But if you spend your whole life speaking a particular language, receiving educational training in the said language, and after 21 years you cannot communicate properly or formally in that language, what does that say about the person? It is either the person was negligent of his/her studies, or the educational system failed that person.

I think that in Nigeria, it is a little bit of both. Students do not pay attention to their studies anymore, and the educational system is steadily declining. That is why an educator can come out in public and make such stupid statements. Educators need to sit up and think about how they can improve the system. All this mediocrity needs to stop, if not Nigeria will never be a main contender in the international market in terms of knowledge base and practical applications that translate to the ability to provide much needed services.

A lot have contributed to the huge failure in math and english language
Many of the matH and english teachers are too coehsive. a lot of them impose unnecessary fear into the student. many of them don't kwn hw to teacH but D̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥γ̲̣̣̥ refuses to swallow their pride because D̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥γ̲̣̣̥ tink D̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥γ̲̣̣̥ are Hot Cake.
A lot of student don't really read again. Those dat read are noting doing intensive studying

The atmosphere is not condusive for an average student....Our educational setting is too cumbersome. We emphasis on Theory more practical

Maths and English is the lifeblood of education. Any decent secondary education curriculum must be geared at least 35% toward these two subjects.

I very much agree with this piece of article. Majority of student today have little or no knowledge about the said subject'. mathematics and english. It's not as if they are not brilliant. Most of them can do very well when it comes to other subject. But they are certain to write waec or neco for 10times and fail either englsh or mathematics; thereby denying them access into the university. I think the educational body of waec, neco, nabtec. etc. Should only make english compulsory since mathematics is not very important to them, especially Art student. Also, i seriously think the government should interrogate this body, as we all know what they are doing is money making and not necessary to improve the standard of education in the country.

Miss EZ:

God bless you. Very well stated

This is such a poor excuse for the rot in the educational system. Haven't people written and passed Maths and English in the past, why is this a problem now. As someone pointed out, the standard of learning has dropped drastically. Its so bad that even University graduates cannot speak or write correctly. We make such flimsy excuses as to why that is the case e.g. English is not my first language. Agreed. But if you spend your whole life speaking a particular language, receiving educational training in the said language, and after 21 years you cannot communicate properly or formally in that language, what does that say about the person? It is either the person was negligent of his/her studies, or the educational system failed that person.

I think that in Nigeria, it is a little bit of both. Students do not pay attention to their studies anymore, and the educational system is steadily declining. That is why an educator can come out in public and make such stupid statements. Educators need to sit up and think about how they can improve the system. All this mediocrity needs to stop, if not Nigeria will never be a main contender in the international market in terms of knowledge base and practical applications that translate to the ability to provide much needed services.

Well said dude!

.

Kobojunkie: [size=14pt]Mass failure: Too much emphasis on Mathematics and English-Educationists[/size]

Channels TelevisionDele BraimohMass Failure In ExaminationsNECONigerian Education SectorWaec
It has been found that fear and anxiety are the major factors hindering candidates from excelling in external examinations especially in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examination Council (NECO) among others.

According to the former President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Dr. Saidu Mijinyawa, in an interview with the punch newspaper, “The country is consecutively hostage with high failure rate in WASSCE and NECO because of fear/anxiety before and during learning and exam periods due to overblown importance of mathematics and English over other subjects or even above the existence of the person. This is due to the fact that those who fail any of them are denied access to further their tertiary education in the name and on the account that they have no credits in English and mathematics.”

Also, Speaking on factors bedevilling Nigeria’s education sector, the UNESCO Chairman, Open Distance Learning, University of South Africa, Prof. Dele Braimoh, at a recent workshop in Lagos said “the emphasis placed on both subjects was a deliberate act by both exam bodies…the emphasis on the two subjects has made the exam bodies and authorities use that as a means of earning their living from desperate candidates or parents who are left with no other option than to annually return to them for another registration. If it is not what they are doing, why would a huge percentage of candidates fail mathematics this year and all candidates pass English, then next year, all candidates will fail English and pass mathematics? Why?”

The Professor further said “too much emphasis on paper qualification affects the reasoning of candidates…I think we have placed too much emphasis on paper qualification. These candidates are told that if they don’t make all their papers, they would not enter the university. Now, it’s either they study, cram or cheat. And just a few of them actually study. A large percentage of them just want to cheat their way through these external exams and get into the university. Their focus is on making their complete papers.”

For the education sector to be revived, Braimoh said those in power must begin to see education as the key to achieving social-economic development, “The education sector is what it is because the Federal Government has commercialised education… The government is not putting things right. ..this sector should be seen as an area of great concern. But it’s hard for those in power to think in this line when they have their children abroad…”

Cosmos Obiozele, who wrote WASSCE last year, said his disinterest in Mathematics had triggered his failure. “I’ve never liked mathematics. Even when the exam was approaching, I had no strong interest to study. I did not put in much effort like I did for other subjects, because I knew I would fail it. May be if my teachers had helped me work on my fear for Mathematics, I would have done much better.”

What on earth are these people saying? Why shouldn't Mathematics and English Language have to be passed for further education in a country with English as its official language?

Its too easy to always lay the blame on students. I lay the blame squarely on a governmnt that lacks the will to put a working system in place that will ensure that 1. Teachers are those who know what they are doing and why they are doing it. There are too many people in the teaching profession who have absolutely no business teaching, not only in public schools but increasingly in private schools. 2. We need a system that will appropriately evaluate the Nigerian educational need, why would someone going to study Yoruba ve required to have English and maths for example? We have to stop using a blanket approach to everything. I used to think only public schools had the problem of products that were not up to standards but very many private schools are awful now, probably because the teachers migrated from the public school system. 3. The solution has to be from the foundational level (nursery). Kids are force fed, not raised to think for themselves. If you start by telling a child 1 + 1 is 2, you will prevent the child from understanding the basic concepts. But if you allow the child to discover why 1+1 is 2, you lay the right foundations for life. Its time we wake up as a nation.

thehomer:

What on earth are these people saying? Why shouldn't Mathematics and English Language have to be passed for further education in a country with English as its official language?

Thank you. Its not as if those people in other countries that are passing both Maths and English have four heads and we have just one. We are just a lazy country. We want to enjoy benefits without doing the work. That is why the country is in the mess that we find ourselves. Who will fix our system for us? The West? We need to set the standard and let people rise up to meet them. Rather than set the bar even lower in order to meet people where they are. Competence is not given it is earned.

Is it coincidence that the fall from grace of the Nigerian educational status started with the rise of entertainment in our society? Is it far fetched to see the corelation between mass media and mass failure? As maxwell jordan puts it " the government doesn't want your kids to be educated,they don't want u to think too much...cos u get in the way of 'important' people by too much thinking. Theu want the human mind to be entertained not educated." When every final year student has a facebook account,when every final year student follows big brother,when every final year student knows barcelona's bench warmer how can we complain about dwindling exam scores failures en masse. Come off it,the hypocrisy is sickening.

shinken: Is it coincidence that the fall from grace of the Nigerian educational status started with the rise of entertainment in our society? Is it far fetched to see the corelation between mass media and mass failure? As maxwell jordan puts it " the government doesn't want your kids to be educated,they don't want u to think too much...cos u get in the way of 'important' people by too much thinking. Theu want the human mind to be entertained not educated." When every final year student has a facebook account,when every final year student follows big brother,when every final year student knows barcelona's bench warmer how can we complain about dwindling exam scores failures en masse. Come off it,the hypocrisy is sickening.

yeah...maybe! But, then there are such 'distractions' in other Countries...yet, we don't hear about their mass failure. Remember, other African countries write WAEC exams, too why is ours so prominent, recurring. #do we need to guide these young ones on how to manage these 'distractions' well? :/

hw can that be? Okay, lets put emphasis on technical drawing and metal work.

Kobojunkie: [size=14pt]Mass failure: Too much emphasis on Mathematics and English-Educationists[/size]

The Professor further said “too much emphasis on paper qualification affects the reasoning of candidates…I think we have placed too much emphasis on paper qualification. These candidates are told that if they don’t make all their papers, they would not enter the university. Now, it’s either they study, cram or cheat. And just a few of them actually study. A large percentage of them just want to cheat their way through these external exams and get into the university. Their focus is on making their complete papers.”

So why not just say the real reason for the mass failures is because very few of these kids actually do what they are supposed to do and actually STUDY?

Some of these Professors are fond of overthinking issues!!

English language should be emphasized more than mathematics. Many courses at the tertiary level actually don't need maths but requires english since the courses would be taught in english language. Maths should be compulsory for people going in for certain science and social science courses like maths, statistics, engineering, physics, accounting, economics, etc. Most courses require at best basic statistics and not general maths which they are forced to do. I strongly recommend that statistics as a subject be re-introduced by WAEC and adopted by NECO too. This will remove the fear and hatred for general maths.

smh

English is one of the few advantages we have over certain other countries.

Without math skills, we won't ever have any hope of being good at science and engineering.

ishmael: English language should be emphasized more than mathematics. Many courses at the tertiary level actually don't need maths but requires english since the courses would be taught in english language. Maths should be compulsory for people going in for certain science and social science courses like maths, statistics, engineering, physics, accounting, economics, etc. Most courses require at best basic statistics and not general maths which they are forced to do. I strongly recommend that statistics as a subject be re-introduced by WAEC and adopted by NECO too. This will remove the fear and hatred for general maths.

How about for the rest of one's life? How can one have a scientifically literate society that would be able to meet the challenges of the 21^st century if a significant population of her people are illiterate in basic mathematics? How would they have the basic skills to find out what sorts of policies to support or vote for? How would they be able to research into the best candidates for their future and that of their children?

thehomer:

How about for the rest of one's life? How can one have a scientifically literate society that would be able to meet the challenges of the 21^st century if a significant population of her people are illiterate in basic mathematics? How would they have the basic skills to find out what sorts of policies to support or vote for? How would they be able to research into the best candidates for their future and that of their children?

Read my post again. That is why i said they need knowledge of basic statistics. The general maths as a whole is filled with a lot of irrelevant topics for people going in for certain courses. Statistics used to be a subject in WAEC before it was merged with or incoporated into gen mathematics and Additional maths. Imagine, what does someone who wants to read law or history have to do with Geometry and Trigonometry?

We put the technical drawings and the key work of metal[img]http://www.50centloseweight.com[/img]

Kobojunkie: The kin educators we get for this country na wa. All their PHD and this na wetin person dey read from this man as reason for the mass failures?

i agree 100% with him because am a victim this maths and english embargo!

texazzpete:

So why not just say the real reason for the mass failures is because very few of these kids actually do what they are supposed to do and actually STUDY?

Some of these Professors are fond of overthinking issues!!

I very much agree with your point of view.We should give the child enough space

adigun bankole: A lot have contributed to the huge failure in math and english language
Many of the matH and english teachers are too coehsive. a lot of them impose unnecessary fear into the student. many of them don't kwn hw to teacH but D̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥γ̲̣̣̥ refuses to swallow their pride because D̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥γ̲̣̣̥ tink D̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥γ̲̣̣̥ are Hot Cake.
A lot of student don't really read again. Those dat read are noting doing intensive studying

The atmosphere is not condusive for an average student....Our educational setting is too cumbersome. We emphasis on Theory more practical

Wonderful points!!
1. A lot of them impose unnecessary fear into the students.
2. Some can't teach.
3. Can't swallow their pride

Most teachers are @ fault cos they impose this STUPID 'fear' on students especially pupils....I repeat..primary school pupils. The whole thing starts from primary and not secondary school...they always scare the sh*t out of these kids by telling them that maths is too complex for their head or that they have block head(and then flogging the hell out of them)....etc
There are also schools that have 3-4 teachers only and I am not joking(a teacher will handle both science and arts courses)...
Another thing is pride....most teachers can't swallow their pride...some are arrogant and behave like ballotelli!!!!!....they'd rather teach nonsense than to admit that they don't know p.o.o.
Some teachers don't know how to relate to students(pupils as well)..they don't know how to answer their questions as well....sometimes when students ask questions, instead of receiving an answer, all they get is "you are stupid. So this little thing you don't know it"..
Now tell me, how do you expect them to ask questions again!!?!? Those kinda teachers forget that little things matter a lot!!!!
If I see my secondary school chemistry teacher again,I'll let him know he doesn't know how to teach,though I managed to pass it in waec...I was good in maths,physics and english but this man almost ruined my classmates and I in chemistry. The funny thing is that it wasn't my class alone...our seniors also complained back then....thank God I was able to understand chemistry in the university though I did it only in year1(I never knew chemistry was easy).....

I think this decay gradually started in the early 90's(that was when most of these quack teachers graduated)....

I believe our generation can make a difference!!!

adigun bankole: A lot have contributed to the huge failure in math and english language
Many of the matH and english teachers are too coehsive. a lot of them impose unnecessary fear into the student. many of them don't kwn hw to teacH but D̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥γ̲̣̣̥ refuses to swallow their pride because D̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥γ̲̣̣̥ tink D̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥γ̲̣̣̥ are Hot Cake.
A lot of student don't really read again. Those dat read are noting doing intensive studying

The atmosphere is not condusive for an average student....Our educational setting is too cumbersome. We emphasis on Theory more practical

Wonderful points!!
1. A lot of them impose unnecessary fear into the students.
2. Some can't teach.
3. Can't swallow their pride

Most teachers are @ fault cos they impose this STUPID 'fear' on students especially pupils....I repeat..primary school pupils. The whole thing starts from primary and not secondary school...they always scare the sh*t out of these kids by telling them that maths is too complex for their head or that they have block head(and then flogging the hell out of them)....etc
There are also schools that have 3-4 teachers only and I am not joking(a teacher will handle both science and arts courses)...
Another thing is pride....most teachers can't swallow their pride...some are arrogant and behave like ballotelli!!!!!....they'd rather teach nonsense than to admit that they don't know p.o.o.
Some teachers don't know how to relate to students(pupils as well)..they don't know how to answer their questions as well....sometimes when students ask questions, instead of receiving an answer, all they get is "you are stupid. So this little thing you don't know it"..
Now tell me, how do you expect them to ask questions again!!?!? Those kinda teachers forget that little things matter a lot!!!!
If I see my secondary school chemistry teacher again,I'll let him know he doesn't know how to teach,though I managed to pass it in waec...I was good in maths,physics and english but this man almost ruined my classmates and I in chemistry. The funny thing is that it wasn't my class alone...our seniors also complained back then....thank God I was able to understand chemistry in the university though I did it only in year1(I never knew chemistry was easy).....

I think this decay gradually started in the early 90's(that was when most of these quack teachers graduated)....

I believe our generation can make a difference!!!

ishmael: Read my post again. That is why i said they need knowledge of basic statistics. The general maths as a whole is filled with a lot of irrelevant topics for people going in for certain courses. Statistics used to be a subject in WAEC before it was merged with or incoporated into gen mathematics and Additional maths. Imagine, what does someone who wants to read law or history have to do with Geometry and Trigonometry?

What is wrong with including Statistics within Mathematics?
Everyone needs some knowledge of Geometry and Trigonometry due to how it influences one's spatial reasoning. The SSCE is supposed to be a sort of all purpose core knowledge around which one develops as they see fit. Even if one doesn't use it regularly, at least the person who learnt it previously can easily and quickly pick it up again if needed.

thehomer:

What is wrong with including Statistics within Mathematics?
Everyone needs some knowledge of Geometry and Trigonometry due to how it influences one's spatial reasoning. The SSCE is supposed to be a sort of all purpose core knowledge around which one develops as they see fit. Even if one doesn't use it regularly, at least the person who learnt it previously can easily and quickly pick it up again if needed.

You're too fake. You don't even know what trig or geometry is. Ok tell us one area where the law or history student applies trig or geometry in law or in history; i'm waiting. A prospective law or history student at best requires knowledge of basic statistics which they will eventually apply in the area of research data collection and data analysis, and not all those irrelevant topics like geometry, trig and other irrelavant topics that he or she will never make reference to.