• Schools, students in final preparations for WASSCE, UTME, NECO, parents hire private tutors
By Gabriel Dike
About 14,000 approved public and private secondary schools and over one million students nationwide are making final preparations to sit for two major terminal examinations. They are May/June 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
Also, over two million students are working towards writing the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to secure admissions.
Students are expected to obtain five credits including English Language and General Mathematics as well as a high score in the UTME to stand a chance of securing admission in the university, polytechnic or college of education. The UTME will start from Friday, April 25, to Monday, May 5, 2025.
Schools have moved the SS111 students to special coaching classes, in some cases including Saturday and Sunday sessions for schools with boarding facilities.
Parents are not left out as some hired private teachers for their wards at home to take them on specific subjects.
Daily Sun learnt that during the first and second term breaks, some schools engaged their SS111 students in preparation for the external exams.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) released their time-tables long ago. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), recently announced date for the matriculation exam where over two million candidates applied.
WAEC timetable revealed that the school examination will start on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, with Food and Nutrition and Home Management. It ends on Friday, June 20, 20e5, with Fisheries and Crop Husbandry and Horticulture.
The SSCE timetable exams commence with Physical Education and other practical papers from Monday 16 to June 20, 2025. English Language and General Mathematics will be written on Wednesday, July 2 and Wednesday, July 16 respectively.
Some Federal Government Colleges are organising special classes for their SS 111 students for WASSCE, UTME and SSCE at N40,000 per student. In some private schools, the cost for the special coaching classes was included in the fees paid to prepare the SS111 students.
The issue of payment of N40,000 generated ripples in King’s College, Lagos. Some parents kicked against it and queried their PTA executives for the high cost.
Following stiff opposition, the KC PTA dropped the idea, forcing parents to make private arrangements for their wards.
Some withdrew their wards at the end of SS111 for a one year tutorial class for WASSCE, SS111 and UTME.
Some special schools in Oshodi, Ikeja, Ikoyi, Fagba, Ogba, Port Harcourt, Benin, Abuja, Awka, Aba, Owerri and Onitsha provide accommodation and feeding for students. Students in such schools are coached by seasoned WAEC exam markers and subject specialists.
Parents’ preparations
A guardian with a ward in KC, Adekunle (surname withheld) told Daily Sun that he hired two teachers, one for science subjects and another for English Language. His decision was based on the cancellation of a special class by the PTA of King’s College: “Some parents questioned the PTA executives on the rationale to pay N40, 000 per child for the special coaching classes.
“Following the disagreement, the new principal stopped the special classes. Some of us had to engage teachers to fill the gaps.”
Adenike Solaja has an SS111 student at Bright International Academy, Bariga, Lagos. Her son moved to the school for the coaching clinic class ahead of the WASSCE and UTME exams under the supervision of senior subject teachers.
She told Daily Sun that the fee for the coaching clinic class was paid alongside the school fee and that experienced external teachers were engaged to prepare the students.
Another KC parent, who wants his name withheld, said he was in support of the PTA special classes because his son in 2024 benefitted from the session and was ready to pay the N40, 000 but that some parents complained about the high fee demanded by the PTA:
“The N40, 000 generated ripples among parents leading to its cancellation.” He had to engage a private tutor to prepare his daughter in some specific subjects.
Educationists interven
President, Association of Formidable Educational Development (AFED), Emmanuel Oji, described examination in Nigeria as a big thing like in other countries: “Because it gives credence and puts evidence to years of hard work. Gives direction to students’ career line and provides opportunities for schools in making decisions concerning students.
“The process of preparing SS 111 students must be taken seriously. Examination and its success beam searchlight on different players and the expectations. By now, final students will be engaged in intensive revision and provides them with structured revision schedules, practice exams and feedback to help them identify areas for improvement.
“Regular practice of exams and assessments can help students familiarise themselves with the exam format, identify areas for improvement and build confidence.
“Schools are advised to identify areas where students need improvement and focus on those topics, learn effective exam strategies, such as time management, question selection, and answer planning.
“Schools should also ensure that exam materials are stored securely and distributed only to authorised personnel as well as guarantee student safety during exams.
“Security in some very volatile communities especially as being experienced in the North and East is a key concern for worries. Authorities must be deliberate at ensuring that safety and security concerns are adequately addressed.”
An educationist and retired teacher, Mr. Samuel Obadina, defended the special classes for SS111 students. He said most schools bring experienced subject teachers who are either serving or retired WASSCE markers:
“Special classes involve going through past questions with the students and guiding them on how to answer the questions based on experience as a former WAEC marker.”
Students speak
Two SS111 students of a special school in Ikoyi, Lagos, Samson and Alabi (surname withheld) said the preparation class includes Saturday and Sunday with subject teachers taking turns to treat past questions of WASSCE and UTME.
Maryanne, SS111 student of a private school at Fagba’ Ogba, Lagos, said after her first term, the school collapsed the final year class to a special tutorial session: “The school moved SS111 students to the boarding facilities for an all-round session with experienced teachers in different subject areas, who are involved in marking WASSCE and SSCE answer scripts.”