Don cautions parents against forced subject combination

A professor of Measurement and Evaluation at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Professor Eme Joseph, has cautioned parents against forcing their children into a particular subject combination as such could be limiting and destructive.

She advocated that the students should be given the opportunity to pick relevant subject combinations that could give them an alternative.

Prof Joseph stated this while delivering the 106th Inaugural Lecture of the University at the weekend, titled: ” Educational Evaluation From Cradle to Grey: The Quintessential Process for Development”

“The current structure in Secondary school’s where a student is forced into a particular subject area, science or arts or social science is very limited and could be very destructive.

“Where the preferred course was due to improper self-assessment, peer influence, or parental career preference for a change to be effected, the student will have to go back to retake the necessary subject at the O’ Level to change the trajectory of his or her career.

“The situation could have been averted if the child had an alternative. I therefore advocate that students should be allowed to pick some relevant subjects combination that can give them an alternative,” he explained.

The 106th lecturer who is also the Director, Academic Planning of the University advised parents to pay attention to the behavioral patterns of their wards and take note as such could give clarity to the strengths and abilities of the child at a later time.

” Parents and Caregiver should pay keen attention to the behavioral patterns exhibited by young children and take note of these as this could give clarity to the strength and abilities of the child in later life”

She advocated that psychological tests for teachers should be given pride of place to enable
uncover the pupils/students inert abilities particularly in the affective domain, adding that guidance counselors should be provided with appropriate effective and psychomotor instruments to enable the collection of correct information about each pupil/student.