The Ministry of Education has impressed on all school heads particularly principals of all secondary school that it is their responsibility to see that form five students progress to form six and sit for their FSLC examinations.
The instruction came after parents complained that some principals refuse to promote their children up to form six because according to principals the subjected students are slow learners.
The Ministry of Education emphasised that it does not want any child to drop out of the system before reaching form six.
Besides there is no education policy to legitimise school principals from stopping form five students to go to form six level simply because they cannot meet the benchmark set by the school. Therefore it does not condone the practice and urges principals to refrain from it.
Meanwhile the Minister of Education, Mr Filipe Bole has already announced that the Ministry will closely monitor schools that are underperforming in both FSLC and FSFE examinations.
The Minister firmly believes school underperformance is a reflection on the school leadership.
School leadership is about creating a community of learners and stopping students from progressing upward contradicts the spirit of education.
The Ministry however promises to make some changes in underperforming schools beginning with the principals and heads of departments as a wake up call.