By Mohamed Vandi in Kenema
The Principal of in King Fahad Junior Secondary School in Tongo, in the eastern Kenema district has condemned the decision by the Minister of Education that only pupils with a certain aggregate passes at the National Primary School Education (NPSE) certificate will be allowed to write the junior secondary Basic Education Certificates Examination (BECE).
Speaking to journalists, Amidu Babatunde Juma described the decision as "frustrating" calling it "an attempt to encourage a high rate of school dropouts in the country".
He said he had admitted pupils that did not pass the NPSE exam because he was with the conviction that they would excel to the next class and would pass the BECE. "Most pupils fail public examination because of examination freight" he said.
"I have a degree from the Milton Margai College without an ‘O’ level’" Juma said, adding "so what is wrong if children who failed the NPSE are admitted?" he quipped.
Amidu admitted that as well as running a private school he was also receiving salary at the Tongo Agriculture Secondary School. When challenged, he also said that he school had not be authorised by the ministry of education but was quick to add that he had applied for such without the ministry obliging his request.
The sources further disclosed that Le250,000 was being collected by the principal for admission of pupils that did not pass the NPSE examination.
"We are very uncomfortable with this type of administration and the low standard of the pupils he has admitted into the school" a source said.
The Deputy Director of Education, Claudius Wilson said there many illegal schools were operating within the district and that plans were underway to take a decision on those schools.
The recent decision of the Minister has forced students in the secondary schools to retake the NPSE examination. Some principals in Kenema admitted to Politico that most of the candidates they sent for public examinations were rejected by the Ministry of Education on the grounds that they did not pass the NPSE and BECE.
In a related development the principal of Wallace Junior Secondary in Daru, in Kailahun District, Charles Manga is alleged to have collected Le300,000 from pupils that did not pass the NPSE examination. One of the parents whose children are affected, Mustapha Sesay said that he was shocked when he learnt that about five pupils that failed the NPSE were admitted to the school. He said they had plans to challenge the principal on the issue. When contacted Manga declined to talk to journalists on the issue, insisting that he would only talk to the Deputy Director of Education.
(C) Politico 30/01/14
