National Telescope national telescope newspaper
No fewer than 37,480 candidates in Kwara State who sat for the 2017 Basic Education Certificate Education (BECE) were successful with pass mark in various subjects including the compulsory subjects of English and Mathematics.
The number represented 86.3 per cent of the total number of 431, 430 candidates that were presented for the examination in the state.
According to analysis obtained by Pilot Education, the state recorded 90 per cent and above in 12 from the 16 subjects that the candidates registered for.
Kwara scored 90 per cent and 91 per cent in English Studies and Mathematics respectively while the highest percentage of 96 was obtained in Igbo Language and the least recorded in Arabic with 87%.
Speaking during the formal presentation of result analysis of the examination by the Consultant, Plat Consults, at the Ministry of Education on Thursday, the state Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Engr. Musa Ayinla Yeketi, attributed the success to investment and rapt attention paid to education by the state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed.
“We commend the state Governor for his unflinching support and passion for the education sector. He has supported the sector in no small means. Funds are approved on time and back with cash immediately. That is the reason we are having good results in recent examinations such as the Basic Education Certificate Examination and Senior School Certificate Examination,” he said.
Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Hajia Mariam Ayodeji Garba, Yeketi, said the intensive monitoring of schools and evaluations of teachers have culminated in the success recorded by the candidates in the external examination.
He applauded the teachers for effective teaching, urging them not to rest on their oars for improved performance in subsequent external examinations by students in the state.
In his remarks, the Director of Curriculum and Assessment, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed disclosed that there was a slight marginal drop of two per cent in the result compared to the 2016 outcome, which according to him was as a result of introduction of new curriculum.
He commended the consultant for timely release of result of the 2017 BECE examination, calling for better working partnership.
While presenting the result analysis, the Consultant, Engr. Taofeek Abdulkareem Baba-Ita said the site where students would access the result has been well secured against hacking, using certain protocol; the https and tools for constant monitoring.
Fielding questions from newsmen shortly after the event, the permanent secretary expressed optimism for improved performance by candidates in subsequent BECE examination after the students and teachers must have better grasp of the new curriculum.
Garba explained that the curriculum was changed to accommodate skill acquisition and trade subjects to prepares students for a life of self-reliance in future in the face of limited white collar jobs, adding that towards this end the state government has upgraded technical schools and established International Vocational and Technical Education Centre (IVTEC), Ajase-Ipo.
She called on the state government for the continued support, assuring that the ministry would continue to work relentlessly for the feat to be sustained, stating further that the proposed renovation of schools by the present administration would provide conducive teaching and learning environment.
