Edugist can report that some teachers in the employ of the Oyo state government are planning to boycott supervision of this year’s West African Examination Council, (WAEC), papers. Edugist reporter learnt that their action cannot be unconnected with the demotion of six of their colleagues over their involvement in examination malpractice.
Recall that Edugist report on the commission’s decision to demote the affected teachers was a result of the findings of the panel set up to investigate them. It added that the panel found the affected teachers guilty.The letter obtained by Edugist partly read, “I am directed to refer to the above subject and inform you that, in line with the recommendations of the panel of inquiry set up to investigate the allegations of examination malpractice levelled against some secondary schools in the state by WAEC during the 2022 Senior School Certificate Examination, the Commission has agreed that the following classroom teachers in your zone be downgraded by a grade level.”
Edugist Findings
The demotion of the affected teachers was announced last week through a letter by the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission, (TESCOM). Signed by Orowale M. I. on behalf of the commission’s chairman and addressed to the Tutor-General in the Saki zone of the state, the commission said the teachers were demoted over their involvement in examination malpractice during the 2022 Senior School Certificate Examination, conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). Those demoted included Ogunkunle Musibau O., from Grade 14 to 13, and Popoola Akeem Abiola, from Grade 8 to 7, both from Owo Community Grammar School, Owo.Others demoted are Mustapha Bolanle Nureni, from Grade 15 to 14, Ahmed Adamu Ademola, from Grade 10 to 9, Titilola Ajeleye John, from Grade 10 to 9, and Adegbola Abraham Titilope, from Grade 8 to 7. The four teachers are from Progressive Secondary Grammar School in Tede. The Oyo State Primary School Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) said that the affected teachers have been demoted.TESCOM made the disclosure via a letter signed by Orowale M. I. on behalf of the commission’s chairman.The letter was addressed to the Tutor-General in the Saki zone of the state.
Teaching Service Commission
According to (TESCOM), the decision to demote the affected teachers was as a result of the findings of the panel set up to investigate them. It added that the panel found the affected teachers guilty. However, the state chapter of the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools, (ANCOPSS), has frowned at the planned action.
ANCOPSS, the umbrella body of all principals in Oyo state, has issued a statement advising teachers against boycotting the ongoing West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations. The boycott was purportedly planned in response to the punishment meted out to teachers who were involved in examination malpractice. The leadership of NUT and ANCOPSS are already engaging the state government and WAEC on the issue, and any negative action at this time will be counterproductive, according to the statement.
All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools, (ANCOPSS) warning
ANCOPSS has warned that boycotting the supervision of external examinations would be considered sabotage, negligence, and dereliction of duty and could result in severe consequences as stated in the extant public service rules. All principals are directed to issue official letters to their nominated teachers for supervision, and any teacher who declines such a nomination should be asked to write a formal letter through the principal, through the Tutor General to the Executive Chairman of Tescom to ask for exemption. The Executive Chairman is the only person who can grant such an exemption.
ANCOPSS reminded all principals that no one has the right to grant any exemption to any teacher without following due process. The statement emphasized that this directive must be followed to the letter, and any principal who unilaterally grants such permission does so at their own risk.
The statement concluded by urging all principals to engage their teachers on the futility of the planned protest and wait for further instructions from the leadership of NUT and ANCOPSS in the state. It also called for adequate publicity of the directive by all Zonal Chairmen/Chairpersons, Zonal Secretaries, and State Officers of ANCOPSS.
The news of the planned boycott by some teachers has caused concern among stakeholders in the education sector, who fear that it could disrupt the ongoing examinations and affect the academic progress of students. The authorities have called on all teachers to prioritize their duties and responsibilities towards the students and ensure that the ongoing examinations are conducted smoothly.
Memo from the Umbrella Body of Principals in Oyo state.
BOYCOTT OF WAEC EXAMINATIONS BY TEACHERS IS ILL-ADVISED…— ANCOPSS
It has come to the attention of the leadership of ANCOPSS in Oyo State that some of our teachers are planning to boycott the supervision and invigilation of the ongoing West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations.
The purported planned boycott is said to be hinged on the punishment meted out to teachers who invigilated and supervised the examinations which led to the delisting of those schools allegedly involved in examination malpractices.
The position of ANCOPSS as the umbrella body of all principals in Oyo State is that such a boycott or protest at this material time is needless, pointless, and ill-advised. The leadership of NUT and ANCOPSS in the state is already engaging the state government and WAEC on the issue, and any negative action at this material time will be counterproductive. It must be noted that boycotting the supervision of any external examinations, for which the state government has invested billions of naira over the years, will be tantamount to sabotage, negligence, and dereliction of duty with very severe consequences as stated in the extant public service rules.
We want to implore all principals to engage their teachers on the futility of such planned protest at this material time while waiting for further instructions from the leadership of NUT and ANCOPSS in the state.
Consequently, all principals are hereby directed to issue official letters to their nominated teachers for supervision and keep such letters in their files with the teachers signing for receipt of such letters for record purposes. Any teacher who declines such a nomination should be asked to write a formal letter through the principal, through the Tutor General to the Executive Chairman of Tescom to ask for exemption. The Executive Chairman, who is the representative of the Executive Governor is the only person who could grant such exemption. This is the standard procedure.
ANY PRINCIPAL WHO, UNILATERALLY, GRANTS SUCH PERMISSION, WITHOUT RECOURSE TO THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY, DOES SO AT HIS/HER OWN RISK.
NO PRINCIPAL HAS ANY RIGHT TO GRANT ANY EXEMPTION TO ANY TEACHER WITHOUT FOLLOWING DUE PROCESS.
A WORD, THEY SAY, IS ENOUGH FOR THE WISE, AND IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE UNDER THE LAW.
ALL PRINCIPALS ARE HEREBY ENJOINED TO FOLLOW THIS DIRECTIVE TO THE LETTER*
We shall overcome.
Thank you all.
This post should be given adequate publicity by all Zonal Chairmen/Chairpersons, Zonal Secretaries and State Officers of ANCOPSS*
E-SIGNED
Pastor Ojetunde A.M
State President, ANCOPSS
Akin Akinade
Sec.General, ANCOPSS
Cc:
1.The Honourable Commissioner for Education.
2.The Executive Chairman of Tescom.
3.The State Chairman of N.U.T.
4.All Zonal Chairmen/Chairpersons.
5.All Principals.
Read also:Oyo State demotes 6 teachers for engaging in examination malpractice
