UTME: Educationists warn parents against expecting too much

Some educationists have cautioned parents against mounting much pressure on their children to be outstanding academically.

In interviews with our reporter on Thursday in Lagos, the educationists warned that such pressure could be counter-productive.

They advised parents and guardians to encourage their children and wards, and appreciate their efforts.

They spoke against the backdrop of the mass failure in the first 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) which traumatised some candidates principally because they felt they disappointed their parents and guardians who expected too much from them.

A retired Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Education District VI, Dr Sherifatu Yusuf, said there was need for parents and guardians to prepare for the best or worst in their children’s academic performances.

“We should learn to encourage them even before they go in for the examination.

“Let them know that it could either be positive or negative. It is not all the time that things will go the positive way,” she said.

According to the educationist, such knowledge will discourage children from taking wrong decisions or contemplating suicide when they fail examinations or have other disappointments.

“When it turns out well or in their favour, they should thank the Almighty, and when it goes the other way, they must still thank the Almighty.

“The next step or way forward is to verify where the failure came from and make extra efforts to address it.

“When you realise that your child has not performed well, call the child and encourage him/her.”

Mrs Gloria Okoh, Proprietress of Gap Fillers Academy, Lagos, said the place of encouragement by parents in the overall development of their children could not be over-emphasised.

Okoh called on parents to identify the academic strengths and weaknesses of their children and collaborate with their teachers on support measures.

According to her, parents should consistently strive to help or encourage a child who is struggling academically instead of name-calling or regarding the child as dull which has a negative effect on the child.

“The danger or implications is that one can’t imagine the extent such a child might go in order to defend his or herself, because he/she will end up having low esteem,” she said.

Mrs Doris Issac, a teacher at the Nazareth School, Festac Town, Lagos State, advised parents to prioritise their children’s well-being.

Isaac said that students’ well-being could be supported by balancing academic pressure with care, encouraging physical activities, providing emotional support and fostering positive relationships with teachers and peers.

The teachers said that positive remarks by parents would boost their children’s confidence.

“The holistic approach will go a long way to help a child or student thrive academically while maintaining overall well-being.

“Collective effort is key. There should be close monitoring and regular communication between the class teacher and parents of the child to create supportive environment that promotes learning and growth,” she said.

Another school teacher, Mr Elijah Akhabigimhe, said that presenting unimpressive academic performance should not mean failure in life.

“Rather than castigate such a child, the parent/guardian/loved ones should use words or methods that would make the child to recognise his or her shortcomings and, at the same time, provide solutions,” he said.