Forty-eight students from over 40 public primary and secondary schools in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State have qualified for the grand finale of the Oshimili South 2024 Quiz competition.
The 48 students, from among the over 200 competitors who participated in the preliminaries of the competition, emerged as best performers in each of the three categories, thus qualifying for the grand finale, scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at the Dennis Osadebey University.
The competition featured English Language spelling and Mathematics for primary 4-6 pupils and Junior Secondary School 1 to 3 students, while students of Senior Secondary Schools (SS1 to 3 were quizzed in spelling, Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics in the third category.
The member representing Oshimili South in the Delta State House of Assembly, Bridget Anyafulu, told our correspondent that public schools have been neglected in the country, stressing that public schools from the primary level, nurtured notable leaders, top government officials, and great entrepreneurs in the past.
She said, “I am organizing this competition for pupils and students in public schools because it is obvious that public schools have been neglected in the country.
“All our leaders attended public schools and got better education. I attended public primary school, secondary and public university and I know that teachers in public schools can build our children to compete with their counterparts in private schools.
“Public school is the best place to take children to and get a better education. This competition will prepare these children to face any examination without cheating.
“The government is also out to end any form of examination malpractice in the state and therefore we are appealing to our teachers to rise to this challenge.
“I want to commend the teachers for their good work of bringing the best out of our children. Let God save Nigeria because of the teachers’ role, indeed, they represent Christ on earth.
“The competition is planned to be a two-legged, all of which will take place here at Government Model Secondary School, Asaba, Delta State. We are here today for the first leg of the competition.
“Anyafulu competition among public primary and secondary school students in the local government area aims principally at encouraging reading habits among primary and secondary school pupils and students which will bring to an end examination malpractice in the state.
She said the quiz competition will encourage our children to take a strong interest in education and thereby lead to enhanced quality of education with better-educated citizens.
Some of the pupils and students, who spoke, appreciated the organizer for the opportunity given to them to express themselves.
