Osun S’Sch. Students May Undergo Psychological Tests

• OES Recommends Blacklisting of Students For Harassment Of Teachers

• Bemoans Indiscipline Among Education Instructors

SECONDARY school students in Osun State, especially those in Senior Secondary, might be subjected to psychological tests as part of measures to address moral decadence and standardize enrolment process that will bring about quality education. 

Worried by the level of indiscipline and bastardisation of transition of students in Junior Secondary to Senior Secondary, the Osun Education Summit committee has recommended state-wide psychological test for students in the state. 

According to the committee, there is high rate of moral decadence, such as lateness to school, improper dressing, cultism and beating of teachers by some public school students in the state. 

The committee also identified irregularities in the conduct of Osun State Examination Board examinations, recommending that placement of students from JSIII to SSI should not be exclusively on Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) results.

In its report, the committee recommended that “All forms of examinations that hinder smooth transitions of students at basic levels should be abolished. 

“After BECE examinations, no entrance examination should be conducted to SSI except in cases of special science schools. 

“Placement of students from JSIII (after Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) examinations) to SSI should not be exclusively on BECE results. 

“This should be complimented with results of psychological tests which can only be handled by trained Counselling Psychologists and Guidance Counsellors. 

“There is a need, therefore, to have a developed state-wide Psychological Tests for students’ placements to SSI in the state (Psychological Tests are not achievement Tests).”

Speaking on the quality of teachers in the public schools, the committee bemoaned indiscipline on the part of the education instructors, just as it said it discovered that there exist an undue interference with the appointment, transfer and posting of the teachers. 

According to the committee, irregular attendance in class, absenteeism and disregard to constituted authorities were prevalent among the teachers, saying such practice is needed to be addressed.

“High level of indiscipline among teachers was found, e.g. absenteeism, irregular attendance in class, disregard for constituted authorities, etc. 

“All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) interferes with appointment, transfer and posting of teachers. Rural schools suffer from lack of infrastructure and inadequate number of teachers. Seniority list has been jettisoned in the promotion of teachers.

“There is undue interference by politicians with the running of schools, especially in recruitment, posting, transfer, and discipline of teachers.

“Teachers should be promoted or given duty posts on the basis of seniority list. To this end, seniority list should be compiled and used by Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM).

“Conduct of promotion examinations should be returned to individual schools to restore the dignity of teachers. 

“Special allowance should be granted to teachers who teach in rural areas to motivate them. Teachers in rural areas should be given motorcycle loans to enable them reach schools not accessible to cars and buses”, said the committee. 

To restore discipline among the students, the committee recommends that any student who harassed teacher should be expelled and black listed in the state. 

According to the committee, “Any student who harasses teachers should be expelled from school and not be admitted in any school in the state.”

The committee also encourages the government to give freedom to principal and teachers to discipline students, just as it recommends restoration of moral instruction in school assembly. 

It said: “Principals and teachers should be given freedom to instill discipline in students. Advocacy, training, workshops should be organised for teachers and students to discourage them from examination malpractices. 

“The State House of Assembly should enact a law that would give legal backing to discipline in schools in Osun State. 

“Moral instructions should be restored into school assembly to mitigate moral decadence in schools.

“Restoration of school counselling unit in all public/private schools. This will reduce bad behaviour among students. It would also help to improve academic performance. The use of media is very key, to talk to parents and the society at large.”

Speaking on the available classrooms in public schools, the committee said it discovered that many of the facilities in Mega Schools built by the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administration were underutilised.

According to the committee, there was also inadequate logistics to facilitate effective inspection of schools by local inspectors and zonal inspectors. 

The committee states in its report: “Facilities (classrooms) are grossly underutilized in mega schools (for example, Akinorun Grammar school, Ikirun has 72 classes, only 18 are been used. Ila Grammar school, IlaOrangun has 45 classes only 12 are used. Iwo Mega School not in use at all and it is still under lock and key). 

“Many schools are insecure because there are no perimeter fences. This gives way to hoodlums and miscreants to vandalise and steal school property. 

“There are no security personnel in most schools to ensure security of lives and property. 

“There was inadequate logistics to facilitate effective inspection of schools by LIEs/ZIEs.”

The committee also recommends that both the local and zonal inspectors should be made to conduct their inspectorate functions in schools without any hindrance from the principals. 

According to the committee, there is also the need to have an independent school monitoring group that would monitor teaching/learning activities in schools. 

It encourages the government to enlist the service of academics from faculties of education in universities for objective and effective school monitoring.