Dr. Aliyu Tilde, Bauchi state commissioner for education has told the state House of Assembly members who insisted that the Bauchi state government had to pay WAEC fees to all students this year until adequate awareness is created to repeal and replace the existing law and should state where the money for sponsorship will come from in the new law.
Dr. Tilde was responding to questions from members of the
state’s assembly who summoned and grilled him over the recent protest staged bystudents of senior secondary school over government’s decision to downsize thenumber of students to benefit from WAEC sponsorship this year.“But Laws are made by you, the legislature, if todayBauchi State Assembly make a law that the State Government should sponsor allstudents of SS3, I and the governor must obey. “The ball is in your court, ifyou wish you can repeal the law, but in making the law, you should state wherethe money will come from”, Dr Tilde insisted.
Dr Tilde reiterated his pledged to ensure things are donerightly and according to the law, adding that it was part of his promise duringministerial briefing.
“We have announced since November that only those whopass MOCK will be sponsored as the law stated. “We publicized it. “I posted theinformation even on my Facebook pages. “But they thought since it is a politicalgovernment and we are in political era, they will find their ways so that itwill be business as usual.
“I inquire why results of MOCK are not released, therewas no concrete explanation. “I understand they were just allocating marks. Ialso discovered that all schools have the same answers meaning they have copiedthe answers directly from prepared answers.”
The commissioner said as part of measures to address the corruptiontendencies of teachers, he had to contract some graduates who were formerstudents of special schools who went round secondary schools to conduct the examinationsfor the SS3 students.
Dr Aliyu said “students were asked simple questions such aswhat are the items sold in your market? Many of them failed.”
He added that after the examination, 6017 passed, “Wesaid it is too small. “We selected more from MOCK conducted previously. That’show we arrive at 12000.”
In his contributions during the plenary, Hon. GazaliAbubakar (Ganjuwa East), said although he was satisfied with the explanationsof the Commissioner, but argued that “change can’t happen overnight. “You haveto do it bit by bit. “You should make your staff have sense of belonging, theyare isolated. “You should identify hardworking staff that are like minds tochange education sector and work with them.
Hon. Sabo Bako Sade (Sade Constituency) said the policies ofthe commissioner were good but advised that teachers should be held accountablein discharging their duties.
The speaker of the house, Hon. Abubakar Y. Suleiman thankedthe commissioner of his insightful and satisfying explanations on the matter.
He said the House will sit and deliberate on the next lineof action on the matter so as to resolve it in the interest of the masses.
