The Oyo State House of Assembly has directed its Standing Committee on Basic Education to investigate the procedure and method adopted in promoting students across the public secondary and primary schools in Oyo State.
The House gave this directive following a motion moved at the plenary by the lawmaker representing Kajola State Contituency, Hon. Musbau Azeez on the need for the government to strictly enforce its policy on academic promotion requirements of a minimum of 80% class attendance and 50% pass mark in at least five subjects as a prerequisite for promotion in public schools.
In his presentation, the lawmaker revealed that failure to enforce this government existing policy has contributed significantly to poor students’ performance in national examination such as the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
“Examination statistics have shown that a large number of public schools students from Oyo State record below – average results in WAEC and JAMB, a situation that is often traced to weak academic foundations caused by indiscriminate promotions ”
He added further that despite the existing policy, mass promotion is still being practised in many public secondary schools, whereby students are promoted regardless of their academic performance or attendance.
He declared that students promoted without merit are likely to lack the academic competence to cope with more advanced subjects, thereby leading to repeated failure and low self – esteemed.
“The culture of mass promotion erodes its integrity and credibility of the State’s education system, enforcing the minimum benchmark of 80% attendance and 50% pass in assessments will encourage seriousness, academic discipline and proper preparation for external examinations.” The Lawmaker stated