The State of Our Education -By Ken Tadaferua

The ranking of states’ performance in the 2016 WAEC results (See table below) reveals a significant and very troubling trend for the Northern region while the South-East region can truly crow with full chested pride. The South-West should be worried. Enjoy the read:

All the five South-East states strut the super performing top 10 list, with Abia and Anambra States clinching the first and second positions respectively. Four South-South states make the top league. But all the Northern states are glaringly absent, while only Lagos State from the South-West makes it at sixth position.

Significantly, nine Northern states make up the table’s non-performing list of bottom 10. The only non-North state listed in this laggards group is the South-West State of Osun. Indeed, 15 Northern states register in the bottom 17 list.

Isn’t it time the usually politically bellicose 19 Northern States Governors take some of their cohesive political aggressiveness into improving the quality of education in their region? Shouldn’t they declare a state of emergency on education? Should they not copy what their South-East counterparts are doing to deliver bright and intelligent young folks for the nation?

The same questions go to the Northern Elders Forum that would rather split hair and issue public threats over Fulani herdsmen and crude oil revenues than address disheartening social issues in their region. Just what has the Northern elite and elders been doing with over 40 years of “unearned rent” allocations from the federation account if the children in their region continuously post such pathetic performance in education? It would appear that all the bellicosity over the sharing of oil revenues and display of political unity by the 19 Northern States Governors and the Northern Elders Forum achieves is lining their personal pockets and sending their own children to the best schools abroad.

What are the youths of the North doing about the deplorable state of their education? Do they just parrot all their elders say and bow to the superiority which man made culture has bestowed on their elders and elites? Shouldn’t they stand up to demand their due and lead a movement for social change to drive for a revolution in education standards?

Clearly, swathes of masses in the North are underperforming in education. Many more have no education. This is to urgently change. It is about time Northern elites and elders do something about the shameful situation.

Finally, I am surprised about Osun State. Just what is it doing in the laggards’ bottom 10 list? Can someone offer some explanation?

TABLE: WAEC RESULTS 2016
(State by State Ranking)

The Performers

• Abia -1st
• Anambra -2nd
• Edo -3rd
• Rivers -4th
• Imo -5th
• Lagos -6th
• Bayelsa -7th
• Delta -8th
• Enugu -9th
• Ebonyi -10th

The Floaters

• Ekiti -11th
• Kaduna – 12th
• Ondo -13th
• Abuja -14th
• Kogi -15th
• Benue -16th
• Akwa Ibom -17th
• Kwara -18th
• Ogun -19th
• Cross River -20th
• Taraba -21st
• Plateau -22nd
• Nasarawa -23rd
• Kano -24th
• Borno -25th
• Oyo -26th
• Niger -27th

The Laggards

• Adamawa -28th
• Osun -29th
• Sokoto -30th
• Bauchi -31st
• Kebbi -32nd
• Katsina -33rd
• Gombe -34th
• Jigawa -35th
• Zamfara -36th
• Yobe – 37th.

Ken Tadaferua is a media and marketing communications consultant. Twitter: @ktadaferua