Activists in Imo have called for the immediate cancellation of the 2026 Common Entrance and Primary Six First School Leaving Certificate, FSLC, examinations in the state, following what they termed poor planning, inadequate logistics coupled with unconducive conditions that subjected pupils to severe hardship.
In an open letter addressed to the State Commissioner for Education, the SAVE IMO group, led by Ebubeagu Ekenulo, accused the ministry of mishandling the examinations held on July 17.
The group pointed out that the decision to schedule both examinations on the same day was evidence of poor planning which placed pupils who sat for both exams at a disadvantage.
“Scheduling both high-stakes examinations for the same day was a reckless decision, “Many pupils sat for both. It set them up to fail before they entered the hall. This was not an error. It was a disregard for educational standards,”the letter alleged.
The group also alleged that pupils at several examination centres were forced to write their papers in darkness after hours of delays, with some reportedly relying on torchlights, candles and car headlights provided by their parents.
According to SAVE IMO, some centres were still conducting the examinations as late as 8pm, prompting worried parents to visit schools over concerns about the safety of their children and the integrity of the exercise.
“Parents stormed schools fearing for the lives of their children and even malpractice. Others became invigilators with flashlights. Is this the standard we now accept for Imo children?
It further alleged that
