Lawmaker representing Bonny/Degema Federal Constituency of Rivers States, Honourable Randolph Iwo Oruene Brown on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 moved a motion for an investigation on the criteria for the diverse cut-off marks pegged to the admission of pupils into Unity Schools by the National Common Entrance Examination Board (NCEEB).

Randolph who sponsored this motion before the honourable members of the Federal House of Representative as the house resumed from their 3weeks break ,noted that “NCEEB published cut-off marks for admission into Unity schools drastically varies from State to State”.

Some examples of the stated disparities can be seen below;

The Bonny-born member further drew the attention of his honourable colleagues on stipulated laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, guiding the Rights of the child and the Responsibilities of the Authorities. He cited “...the Nigerian Law by its provisions in S. 15(1) (2) (a & b) of the Child’s Right Act 2003, places a duty on the government to provide free compulsory and universal basic education for every Nigerian child. Therefore, the importance of education should never be undermined”.

Disturbed by this prevailing situation, Hon. Randolph Brown expressed concerns in the Motion that;

"...most of the compromised cut-off marks do not come up to 59% of the standard requisite 100 percent. While in some cases, the marks do not come up to even 20% of the standard of requisite percentage of 100 and are set against admission into Nigerian Unity schools, known for its high educational standard. That some students who have to meet a cut-off mark of 65% from Abia state by NCEEB standard, will be expected to end up in the same university, study the same course as their contemporaries from Zamfara state that had to meet up the cut-off of 14% for males and 12% for females”.

Also, in his motion, he took cognizant of the deteriorating standard of education in Nigeria, and called on all relevant authorities to urgently arrest the ugly situation.

Noting all aforementioned points before the federal Law Makers sitting in Abuja, Hon. Randolph I.O. Brown in his resolutions pleaded before his Legislative colleagues in the Green Chambers to mandate the committee on Basic Education and services to investigate the basis for the cut-off marks set by the NCEEB for admission of pupils into Nigerian Unity Schools and report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.

CEOAfrica gathered that the disapproval professed by parents whose wards seek admission into Unity schools has revealed the frustrations and discouragement it has placed on pupils.

This motion is hoped above others to critically address the overall public debate on the issue within the polity, and optimistically proffer best strategy towards saving Nigerian education system before the eyes of the world.