Education

GCSE And A-level Pupils To Be Awarded Fewer Top Grades In 2022

GCSE and A-level pupils to be awarded fewer top grades in 2022, says Ofqual

Pupils sitting GCSEs and A-levels next summer will receive fewer top grades than this year’s cohort, but will be given advance notice of some exam topics to help address learning lost as a result of the pandemic, Ofqual has announced.

The 2022 summer exams will be treated as “a transition year” with grade boundaries set midway between pre-pandemic levels in 2019 and 2021’s record results, after exams were cancelled for the second year running and replaced by teacher assessments.

Grades will then return to 2019 pre-pandemic levels for pupils sitting exams in 2023, who are now at the start of their GCSE and A-level courses, in the expectation that they will have avoided the worst of the Covid disruption.

The exams regulator is hoping the two-stage plan will succeed in reining in grade inflation and bring results back to normal levels, without triggering a sudden drop in results for pupils sitting their exams next summer.

Ofqual said more students will still get higher grades than before the pandemic, but with adjusted grade boundaries the proportion of pupils getting top A-level grades could drop by as much as 10 percentage points on last summer’s results, when almost 45% of all entries were awarded A or A* compared with 25% in 2019.

After a public consultation, the government and Ofqual confirmed a range of adaptations to next summer’s exams to make up for the disruption to learning, including a greater choice of topics in some GCSE exams like English literature and history.

Advance information about the focus of some exams will also be made available to schools in early February to help teachers and students make best use of the revision period in the final months before assessment, and support materials like formulae sheets for maths will be made available in exams.

Although the government has made plain its desire for exams to go ahead next year, Ofqual also published contingency plans for the use of teacher-assessed grades again in 2022 if exams have to be cancelled for a third year running because of Covid.

The education secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, said: “We’ve put fairness at the heart of our approach and listened to pupils, teachers and parents. The measures we’re putting in place will help reduce the impact of the significant disruption this group of young people have had to face – allowing them to move on to the next stage of their lives.

“We are committed to rigorous standards being fairly applied, and exams are the fairest way to assess students, which is why they will take place next year.”

Ofqual’s chief regulator, Dr Jo Saxton, added: “Our grading approach will recognise the disruption experienced by students taking exams in 2022. It will provide a safety net for those who might otherwise just miss out on a higher grade, while taking a step back to normal. Choice in some subjects and advance information to support revision are intended to provide support for all as we emerge from the pandemic.”

Dr Mary Bousted, the joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), said the exams announcement had come too late and would not allay the anxiety or answer the questions many teachers have.

On exam adaptations, she said: “Only giving advanced information about the exams in time for revision will result in a ‘topic lottery’ where some students will have happened to have covered the topics on the exam in sufficient depth and others may well have not.”

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “Whatever decision was made about the approach to grading in 2022, it would be open to criticism by some. The most important thing is that this decision has been made and everyone involved now knows what to expect.”

Education

Govt sanctions school for selling position of Head Prefect during election

The Anambra State Government has imposed a one-month sanction on Blossom Fount School, Awka, for allegedly selling the position of head prefect during a student election.

This was disclosed in a statement on Saturday by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh.

According to the commissioner, the school reportedly demanded N5,000 from each pupil aspiring to become head prefect in the primary section.

Chuma-Udeh condemned the act, describing it as an attempt to “sell the psyche of the children to the highest bidder from the cradle.”

According to her, such practices are unacceptable under the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

She said that an investigation was ongoing to examine the school’s broader management practices, with the possibility of further actions based on the findings.

Education

JAMB releases 2025 UTME results

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, on Friday announced the release of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, results.

The board disclosed that it is withholding the results of 39,834 candidates over issues relating to examination irregularities.

Recall that over 1.9 million applicants participated in the just-concluded exercise.

JAMB also disclosed that 80 suspects across the country are currently under interrogation for examination fraud, with Anambra State leading the pack with 14 suspects.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, stated this on Friday while officially releasing the 2025 UTME.

He also disclosed that while 467 underage candidates met the prescribed minimum score, 50 were engaged in cheating scandal.

Education

DESOPADEC unveils 2024/ 2025 bursary scheme for students in mandate areas

The Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, on Thursday May 8th, 2025 launched the official portal for 2024/2025 students’ bursary scheme to enable indigent students across her mandate areas to apply, beginning from today 8th to 29th of May, 2025.

The Executive Director, Social Services, Chief Favour Izoukumor who launched the 2024/2025 bursary scheme on behalf of the Commission stated that, “This initiative of the Board underscores our collective commitment to education, human capital development and sustainable growth in the oil bearing communities. It is more than a mere financial aid; it’s an investment in human capital, community development and future leadership.”

Chief Izoukumor noted that the need to support the student community cannot be over emphasized, recognizing the financial challenges many students and parents go through in the face of daunting economic challenges in our nation. Hence, the Board ably led by Chief Barr. John Nani and MD/CEO Chief Festus Ochonogor unanimously agreed to embark on this program to bring succor to our people.

Chief Izoukumor further stated that the DESOPADEC Bursary scheme serves as a catalyst for hope, academic excellence and community transformation, stating therefore that “The 2024/2025 DESOPADEC Bursary is a stimulus to advancing educational excellence and encouraging higher enrollment in tertiary institutions, reducing dropout rates amongst students and enabling students to focus on their studies without the burden of financial stress. It is on this note that the Commission has graciously asked all students to apply within the stipulated time frame.”

The portal will be opened from May 8th to May 29th, 2025 for applicants who must be indigenes of the oil producing communities/areas of Ijaw, Urhobo, Isoko, Itsekiri, Ika and Ndokwa nationalities; Full time undergraduates in any Nigerian University or Polytechnic; must be in 200 level or above at the time of application and Not a part time, Pre- degree or postgraduate student.

Required Documents to be uploaded in JPEG format and which should not be more than 8MB per file include Recent passport photograph; Valid student ID card; Official admission letter; Letter of Identification from oil Producing Nationalities Students Union; NIN slip (National identity Number) and Certificate of local government of origin.

To apply, all students must create an account on the DESOPADEC Bursary portal; Enter personal details; Provide institution and bank details for disbursement; Upload required documents (JPEG only); Save progress and return later if need be and Review all information before final submission.

Reiterating DESOPADEC ‘s commitment to fostering educational growth and sustainable development in Delta State, Chief Izoukumor urged all eligible students to apply promptly and ensure their submission meets the specific requirements and enjoined all applicants to visit DESOPADEC website or contact Social Services Directorate at https://Www.desopadecbursary.com.ng.

Speaking at the event, the National President of Urhobo ethnic nationality, Comrade Onagba O. Freedom along side Presidents of ethnic nationalities in the Commission’s mandate areas who were on ground to witness the official launch, thanked the Board and State Governor, Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff Oborevwori for the gesture of giving the students’ community a leap in their educational pursuit in the face of dwindling economic resources in the State.

“We assure you of our continuous support and commitment to adhering to policies and programs of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff Oborevwori.

Present at the official launch were the Head of Department, Social Services, Mr. Jude Azosibe Elaye; Mrs. Theresa Ogboriaphien, Divisional Head, Youths and Sports; Mr. Ezekiel Ikporikpo and
Mr. Monday Itoghen of the Social Services Directorate of the Commission and aides of the Executive Director, Social Services.

Also in attendance were Comrade Emmanuel Ifeanyi Chukwuji, Ndokwa; Comrade Aweh Nanasentei Johnson Ijaw; Ifeanyi Godsent Ebubechukwu Ika; Efedhoma Shelly, Isoko and Eyitweremi Amajuoritse, Itsekiri ethnic nationalities.