By Emmanuel Edukugho

Three hundred and seventy six students from several public and private secondary schools at Amuwo Odofin Community Senior Secondary School, Mile 2, Lagos, centre, sat for the first stage examination of 2011 Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics competition, held last Saturday across the country. A break down showed 194 in the junior category (JSS3) and 182 in the senior category (SS2) who began the race at this centre, one of the 20 centres in Lagos State. About 40,000 students were expected to sit for the examination nationwide in 200 centres.

At the Amuwo Odofin Community Senior Secondary School, Mile 2 centre, the examination started exactly at 10 a.m after completion of the

Star prize winner receives generator at the raffle draw after exam.

registration process and ended 11.15 am, making duration of one hour, fifteen minutes to answer questions on theory and objectives.

Mr. Theophilus Mokuye, a Sales Manager, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell Milk, sponsors of the competition, co-ordinated the centre effectively. Most of the students came in their school buses accompanied by their teachers. Some of the students who came late after the examination had started were allowed to participate, but stopped at the same time with others. A few of the students who arrived so late that they won’t be able to do something tangible had to stay away, but allowed to take part in the raffle draw after the examination.

All students were required to come along for the first stage examination with two 400gm of Cowbell Milk sachets to enable them participate in the raffle draw. However, it was not a requirement for writing the examination.

While there was no second chance for students next year who could not write the examination because they were hopelessly late in getting to the centre, their schools can participate in the 2012 edition with different students. When asked about the invigilators that were watching the students during the examination in different classrooms, Mr. Theophilus Mokuye, who co-ordinated, said that they (invigilators) came mostly from the Ministry of Education, officials of Local Education District (LED), and teachers from the school (which is the examination centre). Others were Promasidor Sales Managers, sales executives or sales representatives.

After the examination, a cross-section of the students interviewed expressed different reactions. While some said the questions were simple and easy, others reacted that the questions were tough and difficult, said a student who declined to give his name from Foresight international School, Festac.

“The time was not enough. When I knew time had gone and so no much time left anymore, I was just shading like that. Luck with me, I could shade the correct answer.” Another student of Kuje High School, in SS2, said the examination was fair.

Mr. Jacob Edet, Vice Principal (Academics), Leads College, Olasannoye Street, Satellite Town, who brought six students (three in each of the two categories) rated the conduct of the examination as good.

“Well, the only thing is that there was no proper communication about the examination centre. We did not get the right place at first. But we were lucky to find the place. This gave impression of logistics problem in locating the actual centre within the school complex.”

Edet told Vanguard Education that everything was nice. “The examination started on time – 10 a.m to 11.15 a.m. it was alright, first trial for the students and with this experience, it will be better for us next time.”

On how the students were selected for the examination: “We did general screening tests to select the students. At the end, by our discretion, we picked them. Only those who gave us positive impression to do it were picked,” he disclosed.

Winners of the raffle draw held after the examination for the students and teachers are the following: Chukwuemeka Alberta, a Jss3 student of Kings High School, Satellite Town, won the first or star prize – a portable petrol generator. Precious Nwoke, another JSS3 student Glo Davies College went away with the second prize of DVD player (portable CD/cassette player). The third prize of MP3 player was won by Emmanuel Paul, Mater Dei Model School, Ago Palace.

Consolation prizes of flasks were taken by Chukwulobe Chukwuemeka, Command Day Secondary School, Ojo, Ochei Feroje, Lagos State Model College, Ojo, Okoro Ebuka of Okota Senior Grammar School, Aboderin Janet, Rolex Comprehensive College (SS2), and Ken-Udeh Tochukwu of Queensland Academy, Lagos.