VOICE OF EDUCATION AFRICA

WOW, JUST WOW!
I love success stories.
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In the rarefied world of elemental discovery, where new additions to the periodic table emerge only once in a generation, nuclear chemist Clarice Evone Phelps etched her name into scientific history.

As part of the research team at Oak Ridge National Laboratory of the US Department of Energy, she made history by contributing to the discovery of a new element on the periodic table.

Clarice Evone Phelps discovery, Tennessine (Ts), is a halogen and now sits pretty as the 117th element on the periodic table.
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Good job lady.

Credit: Ahaoma Maduka

WAEC 2025: A Wake-Up Call to Educators and School Leaders

The winds of change are blowing through the corridors of education once again, and this time, WAEC has sent a clear and unmistakable message — the era of shortcuts and mass malpractice is gradually coming to an end.

At the recent WAEC Principals’ Briefing, a major shift was announced: for the 2025 examinations, specific subjects — English Language 1 & 3, Biology 1, Mathematics 1, and Economics 1 — will be customised per candidate. In simple terms, each student will receive a unique set of questions, bearing their personal details and tied directly to their OMR sheet. No two students will have the same paper.

Let that sink in.

If, for any reason, a student’s customised paper is missing, WAEC has provided a backup plan — supervisors will issue an emergency question paper and a plain OMR sheet. But the heart of the message is this: students must now face their exams fully prepared — and alone.

As educators and school leaders, we cannot afford to take this lightly. This development isn’t just about new exam procedures; it’s a clarion call to reawaken our commitment to true academic excellence. It reminds us why we came into this profession in the first place — not to supervise results, but to shape lives.

We must now re-strategize. It’s no longer enough to simply “prepare students.” We must transform mindsets — from both learners and parents. We must rebuild a culture where effort is celebrated, diligence is expected, and integrity is non-negotiable.

During this holiday and beyond, our responsibility is two-fold:

1. To guide our students back to the basics — study, discipline, and consistency.

2. To engage parents meaningfully, encouraging them to create reading-friendly environments at home or support their children in finding quiet places to study. WAEC isn’t waiting for us to catch up; the system is moving, and so must we.

It is also the perfect time to remind our school communities that our stance on examination malpractice is unchanged — zero tolerance. Not because it sounds nice on paper, but because it's the only way we can produce learners who will stand tall in the world without fear or shame.

Let’s be honest — it won’t be easy. But what worthwhile journey ever is?

Let us continue to work together — heads, teachers, mentors, counsellors — as one team with one goal: to raise a generation of learners who succeed with honour.

Thank you for your relentless dedication to this noble calling.

Sincerely,
Mr. Ibitoye A.

Moment High school teacher is arrested in front of her husband for allegedly r@ping 15-year-old student An Illinois special education teacher broke down in tears as she was taken into police custody in police footage for s£xually ass@ulting a 15-year-old student.   In the clip below, Christina Formella, 30, was seen exiting her husband’s car, as a Downers Grove police officer said, “You can just grab whatever you need.”   “Whatever I need?” she asked, as her husband questioned while in the passenger seat, “Is she going somewhere?”   “Yeah, we’re going to explain everything to you guys,” the officer insisted, before handcuffing the suspect in the clip shared by news.com.au.   “Excuse me, is my husband coming with?” Formella said as she sat in the back of the car, adding, “Am I in trouble? I am so lost right now.”   “I feel like I’m gonna throw up,” the suspect then said as an officer went to get her a bag as she hugged her knees and cried.   Authorities previously confirmed Formella’s arrest in a statement on the DuPage County website. “On March 16, 2025, Downers Grove detectives conducted a traffic stop on Formella and took her into custody,” the post read.   DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Downers Grove Chief of Police Michael DeVries then said in a March 17 update that a Downers Grove woman had “been accused of having an inappropriate s£xual relationship with a student,” stating she’d been charged with two counts of aggravated criminal s£xual abuse and one count of criminal s£xual ass@ult against a minor.   “The victim’s mother discovered the alleged ass@ult when looking through her son’s text message thread on his cell phone,” the statement said.   Court documents previously obtained by PEOPLE showed several explicit text messages that had allegedly been sent from the married special education teacher and soccer coach to the underage student.   Authorities allege the texts discuss the details of the s£xu@l abuse.   “I love you sooooo much baby… Even though this morning was short, it was perfect,” Formella allegedly texted the 15-year-old boy.   In another alleged text, Formella wrote: “I love having s*x with you,” per the documents.

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