GCE 2017: The real hidden motive

One of the stories that have undoubtedly sold more than hot cake in recent times is the Anglophone Problem. This mighty crisis that began like a drop of water in an extraordinary ocean has raised eyebrows across the globe. “All the examinations organized by the ministries of basic and secondary education must be taken this year as usual…” That was part of a press release read on the state broadcaster, CRTV, a few months back.

It implies tacitly that just like all the other examinations, the GCE will be taken without any worry. If that is the case, then we will have a question to ask: Who is eligible to sit the examinations? The doors for registration are all shut and locked when the majority of the students do not have their names on the list; we are less than two months to the examinations, and yet very little practical lessons have been done in the two regions where tensions are not yet completely out of play.

With these revelations, is it not possible for us to repeat our question: who is eligible? Or maybe we are ignoring one glaring fact: classes have been effective in all other parts of the nation. Those who have been going to school normally are eligible. They want to do the examinations. Indeed, they can. But those who have done nothing should not be used as a shield. By the way, if everybody were to do the examinations, what nature would the questions take? Would they be set based on equity or equality? If you take the former, you agree with the fact that the questions will be set in relation to the programme covered by each school.

Those who had studied more receive more questions and vice-versa. Gong by the latter, the questions would be the same everywhere. In that case, how balanced is your scale? Or there could be a third option: the examinations descend far below standard so that everybody makes it. But then this option is not void of crises.

The students who have had a normal school year will not only do exceedingly better than their counterparts who have not had a steady school year, but they will also do incredibly better than all previous batches. Consequently, they will stand head and shoulder above everyone else in every competitive sphere where a GCE certificate is required. Thus, if the GCE were to be taken this year, the date ought to pass under another, more serious review. The two weeks postponement is not really enough to make the difference.