• Security agencies put on alert
By Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo
Tight security is expected at the premises of most secondary schools in Osun State, especially in Osogbo, the state capital today, following the alleged plot by some students to protest their failure in an examination organised to select public school students that would sit for the next West African Examination Council (WAEC) school certificate examinations on the bill of the state government.
The unified examination was held in all public high schools across the state between Monday, August 23 and Friday, August 27 with over 35,000 students participating.
However, a source at the Ministry of Education said only 7,000 students made the cut-off marks for the state government’s sponsorship.
Consequently, as the results of the examinations arrived schools last Thursday, there was growing tension among students because of the high rate of failure and the belief that those who failed might not be allowed to write the WAEC examinations.
Students of Anglican High School, Kola Balogun area of Osogbo started the protest on Friday when news filtered in that nearly all that sat for the qualifying examination in the school failed.
Also a reliable source in the school said officers and men of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were alerted and the students were hurriedly dismissed as the school closed early for the day.
Security sources yesterday said that some students were planning to foment trouble in schools and that the security agencies had been put on alert in case of any eventuality.
Students, who spoke with THISDAY on the issue, however, expressed reservation over the outcome of the qualifying examination, blaming the high rate of failure on an alleged plot to limit the number of students that would benefit from the government’s sponsorship.
Efforts to get the government’s spokesperson, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, to speak on the development was abortive as calls to his phone were not answered.
