ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND MATHEMATICS SHOULD NOT BE COMPULSORY.
By Olusegun Adeyemi HOSEA.
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The fact remains that when the brain is stress beyond elasticity that is when our intelligence would start functioning properly. Therefore, there is need to shift our paradigm from what is used to be in order to cope with the challenges of the present modernization. It is against this backdrop that we seek the attention of the policy makers in the area of curriculum formulation in our educational sector to peruse the opinion of the Nigerians on why English Language and Mathematics should not be a pre – requisite for entry into the Tertiary Institution for all candidates except for those whose course are related or compulsory to the subject matter would be mandated to have credit at the O – Level before entry into the Tertiary Institution. But other candidates whose fields are not related to these two subjects, at least a pass at the O – Level should be considered for admission into the Tertiary Institutions provided he or she have five credits in other subjects.
However, it’s expedient to bim our searchlight on the cogent reasons why the call for this action. Indeed, there is no doubt about the fact that if these two subjects are less compulsory to the candidates seeking admission into various Universities, there would be a drastic reduction in malpractices in the various internal and external examinations that are been conducted by the recognized examination bodies in our country over the said two subjects. The spirit of having credits at all cost on the two subjects would reduce and everybody would keep their peace and mind their business in time of focusing their attention on the subjects that have bearing to the field they hope to study in the University.
The individual life is very precious to himself, his family and the nation at large. Therefore, reduction of killing or maiming external supervisors and invigilators of examinations whose action prevent the candidates from carrying out their nefarious activities in the examination hall would stop. Many lives have been wasted in the course of hindering candidates from performing their acts while other supervisors have been charmed to develop a running stomach for a long period of time till the examination would be over for that day before he or she would regain his health a lot of malpractice would have taken place. All these are been caused by the emphasis placed on the said two subjects.
Looking at the issue in another dimension, less emphasis on English Language and Mathematics would reduce illiteracy in the society. Many people would be able to further their education particularly those who have five credits in other subjects aside the two core subjects of discussion would afford to pursue their career to the higher institution thereby reduce the number of the illiterates in the society. A society that is well educated, their citizenry would be easy to govern. The aftermath of this would lead to the establishment of peace and tranquility. But if the situation is other way round, the implementation of the Government policy and obedience to the rule of law would become a difficult thing.
Similarly, I need to direct your attention to another point why Government should look inward by making these two subjects less compulsory. As it’s were, many students would be admitted into the Universities if only Government can revise their action on this matter and thereby reduce social vices in the society. As it is now, there are a lot of English and Mathematics wounded candidates in our society. Because their efforts have failed them after several attempts on both subjects they have decided to resign their fate. So the option they think of is left for them since they cannot further their education because of this dilemma of subject matter. It therefore put the society into ransoms by constituting themselves into unscrupulous elements that is disrupting the peace and progress of the society. The effect of this action on our economy cannot be over emphasized. When there is pandemonium in the society, the traffic of people would stop flowing, business activities would stand still and curfew would be the order of the day. All these activities can only bring pain to the masses in the society as the innocent people would not be able to transact their business within this stipulated time that the society is besiege or engulf with violence and riot.
Indeed, I hope it is good to focus our attention on another angle in the course of treating this matter vividly. The compulsion placed on the two subjects has led to the time wasting of the candidate in staying long than necessary at home. Those who need to acquire their education at their useful age and thereby contribute their own quota to the development of the economy of their father land would not be able to do so; especially when they have deficiency in these two subjects. Therefore, the law needs to be reviewed in order to accommodate other candidates whose field does not require these two subjects throughout their stay in the University. Like I said early, let those who want to study English Language and Mathematics cum other discipline related to these subject should be the one that would bear the brunt.
To express further our concern on this matter, if the Government can make it less compulsory it wouldn’t create avenue for examination bodies to charge exorbitant examination fees yearly. Because the subjects are compulsory for all candidates the more the candidates failed them and the more it brings fortune to the examination bodies. They utilize this opportunity by charging more fees on subsequent examinations.
Furthermore, if Government can take action by making the English Language and Mathematics less compulsory, it would reduce the falsification of the number registered candidates in each school especially in the rural areas. Documents falsification among the Principals of these schools would be a thing of past. In fact, most students sees all these citadel of learning as a “Miracle Centre” where results can easily be cooked on these two subjects. So they abandon their original school and get themselves registered in all these so called “miracle centres” and clear their result once and for all. What causes this is no other reason than the compulsion of these two subjects.
Also, we need to consider the excesses of the tutors of these two subjects in terms of victimization of the female students under their watch.Because the subjects are compulsory to pass before a student can go to the next class there is possibility for the teacher of these two subjects to take the advantage of the situation in order to victimize their female students who refuse to comply to their emotional request thereby fail such female student.
Finally, before I rest my golden pen, our culture is very sin – qua – noon and it is expedient for us to guide it jealously in order for it to have value within and outside the shores of this nation. Therefore, if the English Language and the Mathematics could be less compulsory in entering into the Universities in our society, it would reduce the superiority of foreign languages over the indigenous languages in our community.
Olusegun Adeyemi HOSEA ,CEO: Exponent Magazine News: A production of Ewi Exponent Rendition Communication., write from Akure Ondo State.
