The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has come up with a new initiative called the Unified Examination, which held for the first time in Lagos State last week.
The examination was conducted among member schools within Agege/Ikeja axis.
The examination was written by Primary 3-6, JSS1 and 2, and SS1 and SS2 pupils. Primary school pupils wrote English, Mathematics and General Paper. At the Junior Secondary School (JSS) level, the pupils wrote English, Mathematics, General Paper (comprising Civics, Social Studies, Basic Science, Basic Technology and ICT); while at the Senior Secondary level, they wrote English, Mathematics, General Paper (comprising ICT, Civics, and relevant subjects in the science, art and commercial disciplines.
At LAGOOZ Schools situated in Agege, the pupils were seated as early as 8:00am to take the examination, which is aimed at preparing, testing and getting pupils used to the pattern of public examinations they would face in their terminal classes.
However, as with any new endeavour, the examination encountered teething problems as question papers did not get to the centres in good time. One of the affected centres was Brighter Hope Schools, Agege. The question papers did not arrive until some minutes to 10 am. Augustine Awuje, chief invigilator of the centre, also complained that some of the OMR answer sheets were incomplete, among other imperfections.
“Aside the late arrival of question papers we are also facing other problems such as incomplete shading papers, the sitting arrangement between junior and secondary school pupils is also a problem. I also think there is a need for more training as most invigilators and teachers are not well informed about the process of the unified examination,” he said.
Defending the examination, Alhaja Olatundun Ogunmuyiwa, chairperson of NAPPS Agege pupils (in charge of 12 centres), said such occurrence is common with pilot projects and would be addressed.
“This is the maiden edition of the unified exams and we have encountered some problems in the area of logistics which we have noted. One of the problems we are facing is the collation of questions papers to various centres because all questions are packed according to the schools. This challenge may make some centres to start later than 9am, but we are on top of the situation,” she said.
Adetoke Gbemisola, an SS1 pupil of the LAGOOZ Schools described the initiative as a welcomed development.
“I think it is a welcomed idea because our teachers will know more about our capabilities and as pupils we will also be able to learn more. I hope to develop more in my studies and I think this exam will help prepare me. When I initially heard about the exams, I was afraid because I didn’t know what to expect but I am seeing it as an opportunity to development,” he said.
Adebowale Adeola, who also is an SS1 pupil of the same school, is confident he would pass.
“It is a good idea and it is going to prepare us for external examinations that we will face in the future. I am confident about my chances and I know the exams will help to prepare me and my quest to become a medical doctor in the future,” he said.
Otunba Yomi Otubela, Lagos State NAPPS president, said the examination hasmany benefits, including: engendering healthy rivalry among member schools, assisting the association to obtain scholarships from and partner with local and international bodies; inspire schools to cover the syllabus adequately and increase productivity and performance among other things.
He said: “NAPPS unified examination has the ability to curb mass failure by exposing the pupils to the rudiments of sitting for external examinations organised by independent bodies long before their final examinations. In this way, pupils would have gained the mastery of sitting for final external examinations such as WAEC, JAMB and NECO.
“The unified exams will also ensure that quality control is guaranteed, in the sense that, unified examination removes over reliance on teacher’s assessment alone. It also guides against favouritism and mediocrity. NAPPS unified examination will ensure that teachers complete their scheme of work on time since the pupils will be made to face external examinations at some time. The exams can also be used as a measure of performance for teachers and even schools since results can be benchmarked.”
