EDITORIAL: Need to probe essence of the ‘pre-form one’ craze

Youngsters who sat the National Standard 7 exams in early September are still waiting for the results. It means they are not certain yet about their fate. However, already there are widespread activities meant, ostensibly, to prepare them for Form One entry in January. We are talking about academic preparations in the form of the so-called pre-Form One training.

In most towns, posters are everywhere, on which children are being invited to register for “pre-Form One,” the details of which are, however, not very clear. Teachers have always been models of morality and enlightenment in society. Now when they advertise to invite children to come for couching in readiness for Form One entrance, everybody tends to oblige. It is therefore, no wonder, that many parents become more than willing to dig deep into their pockets to pay for their children’s “pre-Form One”.

It is clear there is a mystification of the whole notion of joining Form One. The impression is created, that,  unless one undergoes some special training other than what one was offered between Class One and Seven at primary school, one won’t manage the “tough” O-Level undertaking! Children who have finished primary school will have gone through a tortuous period, especially during their final year, preparing for Class 7 national exams. That they need a long period of rest ahead of joining Form  One, is a scientifically determined plan fixed by educational experts. Manoeuvring young minds into considering it a must to undergo “special” training before joining secondary school goes against the grain acceptable ways of upbringing children.

We need, as a country to devise ways of ensuring all those who finish Class 7 are capable of absorbing O-Level education delivery without having to go through costly pre-Form One training when they should be resting, playing and helping parents with family chores.