Imo State Pupils Write Exams in Darkness Amid Delays and Heavy Rains

A chaotic situation unfolded in Imo State as primary school pupils were forced to sit for their First School Leaving Certificate and Common Entrance examinations in darkness. The exercise, which was scheduled to commence at 9am, extended late into the evening, with some centres still conducting the exams after 7pm. The delay was attributed to the late distribution of examination materials, which was reportedly hindered by heavy rainfall. Parents, who had accompanied their children to the examination centres, expressed outrage over the development, calling for the removal of officials from the state Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. The First School Leaving Certificate and Common Entrance examinations are crucial qualifying exams for admission into secondary school in Nigeria. Pupils had braved the heavy rains to arrive at the centres early in the morning, only to wait for hours for the exams to commence. At various centres, including Shell Camp Primary School and Kingdom Heritage Model School, parents waited anxiously for their children to complete the exams. However, the delay and eventual conduct of the exams in darkness sparked widespread criticism. A parent, Chukwudi, took to Facebook to express his disappointment, stating that those in charge of the examinations, including the Commissioner for Education, should be sacked due to their incompetence and lack of organization. Another parent, Chinwe, also expressed her frustration, describing the Imo State educational system as 'zero'. The parents' concerns were further compounded by reports of insufficient question papers and answer booklets at some centres, forcing pupils to share or write the exams in batches. When contacted, the Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, declined to comment on the matter. The development has sparked outrage among parents, who are demanding disciplinary measures against those responsible for the botched examinations.