EDUCATION: Officials Give Latest Update On Reopening Of Schools, WASSCE

The Federal Government (FG) has said it is not yet safe for academic activities to reopen across the country.

The Minister of state for education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, said this while addressing journalists at the end of the eighth virtual federal executive council meeting, on Wednesday.

Nwajiuba also disclosed that WAEC is negotiating with other West African countries to look at possible shifts in date for the 2020 WASSCE.

However, Governors of the six South-west states in Nigeria have expressed readiness to reopen schools for students to write the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

This was  reportedly disclosed on Tuesday at a virtual meeting initiated by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) in collaboration with the forum of South-west education commissioners, special advisers on education and the state universal basic education board chairmen.

Recall the federal government had said Nigerian students will not participate in this year’s WASSCE due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to a statement signed by the Director-General of DAWN, Seye Oyeleye, education officials from the region showed their readiness to hold the examination.

“After careful deliberations, considering peculiarities of each state and options available reached a consensus on the subject matters and are expressed thus: On WAEC examinations; State Commissioners for Education have signified readiness to sit students for the 2019/2020 WAEC examinations.

“At the least, August 3rd, resumption for final year SSS3 students, states should approach the Federal Government at the first instance seeking the postponement of the WAEC exam by at least three weeks from proposed resumption. At the second instance states should directly approach WAEC to seek for an extension of the WAEC Examinations to week commencing August 24, statement in parts".