Adamawa Education Board Bans Marker Day Celebration

• The Adamawa State Ministry of Education placed a strict ban on "Marker Day" celebrations by Senior Secondary Certificate Examination candidates
• The Commissioner of Education, Dr. Umar Garba Pella, explained why the ban was placed, as he outlined legal sanctions on schools that fail to adhere strictly to the ban
• Garba explained the recruitment process for employing new teachers by the board to address the shortage of staff in the state's education system

Yola, Adamawa State - The Adamawa State Ministry of Education has placed a strict ban on the "Maker Day" celebration by Senior Secondary Certificate Examination candidates.

Legit.ng gathered that the education board is taking actions to maintain the positive change in the sector to provide adequate learning skills and moral conduct, under the leadership of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, as the governor's education initiative for the students is taking a progressive turn.

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The students of secondary schools across Adamawa state have resorted to celebrating themselves after completing their West African Examination Council and National Examination Council, which they tag as "Marker Day."

This act exhibited by the students has drawn the attention of the government, as some of the celebrations have resulted in violent scenes within the school community, such as fights with the teachers and other students.

Findings by Legit.ng revealed that the Adamawa state government outlined legal sanctions on any school in the state that doesn't implement such instruction and still celebrates the 'Marker Day'.

In an interview with Legit.ng, the commissioner of Education, Dr. Umar Garba Pella, expressed that the ban is implemented to shape the students' conduct and prepare them ahead of adulthood.

"We placed a ban on the secondary school and basic education, and it is in good faith in order to curtail the problem we have seen ahead, because the students are in the adolescent age and it seems they want to cross their bounds as long as they have the freedom.

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"The students should learn to respect their freedom. When they were celebrating the marker day, it went beyond something that was expected to be done within the school.

"It went out of the school where the students involved themselves in violent fights with teachers and students, and blocked road passages.

"Such an act is uncalled for, and that is why we have taken such drastic measures to stop it. Any education that doesn't align with basic morals and conduct cannot be tolerated." He explained

Garba maintained that the ban cuts across every sector of the SSCE education, both privately owned and government-owned schools.

"No exception, it includes all schools within the state, from rural communities to urban communities, and our eyes are on State tertiary institutions too, if we see any act that will be of bad social behaviour to the students and the society, we will take strategic actions on them," Garba explained.

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Schools to face legal sanctions

The commissioner iterated that any school that doesn't adhere strictly to implementing the ban will face legal action.

" We have notified all schools about the ban, and any school that doesn't not implement such rule will face a legal sanction from us, because, we want to build a generation of morally disciplined children that will be products of positive societal impact in the future, therefore, each school management is encouraged to adhere strictly to this instruction" he expressed.

Adamawa begins recruitment of teachers

Garba noted that the ministry is working to recruit more teachers to address the staff shortage in the education system.

Garba said," The Ministry of Education is working towards recruiting more teachers into the system to help deal with the issue of the shortage of teachers in the schools across the state.

"The ministry will conduct a Computer-Based Test (CBT) for all applicants of the Civil Service Commission who applied under the Ministry of Education."

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The commissioner said that a total of 18,000 applicants have applied in the ongoing recruitment, and the government has only approved 5,000 employment, noting that the recruitment will be competitive and merit-based.

"18,000 people applied under this ministry, and the state government gave us the slot of recruiting only 5,000 teachers. Therefore, it is going to be a competitive examination based on the course of study.

"We will provide a link for a website that will enable the shortlisted candidates to check their names, and we will send emails or SMS to them," he said.

Dr Garba added that, "the examination will be conducted next week based on the time allocated to each candidate and venue. Therefore, for those who applied under the Ministry of Education, they should be prepared."

Kano kicks against harassment during SSCE celebration

Legit.ng previously reported that the residents of Kano state have expressed dismay over how some secondary school graduates recently celebrate the completion of their examinations, describing certain behaviours as "indecent” and contrary to the state’s cultural and religious values.

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Findings by Legit.ng show that the tradition of students marking each other’s shirts with pens has been a long-standing practice across Nigeria. Many now accuse some male students of exploiting the ritual to molest female colleagues.

This drew criticism, with many parents and residents calling for stricter measures to curb what they see as inappropriate conduct.

Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng