Coronavirus: FG makes U-turn, withdraws unity schools from 2020 WASSCE

- The federal government has said the secondary schools under its control will not be resuming for WAEC exams

- The minister of education, Adamu Adamu, who made this known on Wednesday also advised the state governments not to reopen schools under their control

- Adamu also urged the WAEC management to suspend the 2020 exams

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Secondary schools under the control of the federal government will not be reopening for the forthcoming WAEC examinations, the minister of education, Adamu Adamu, has announced.

Top presidential aide Tolu Ogunlesi made this known via a thread of tweets on his Twitter account on Wednesday evening, July 8.

The minister also called on the management of WAEC to suspend the exams just as he urged state governments to toe the federal government's line.

The tweets read: "There’s an EDUCATION UPDATE: Minister of Education has just announced that schools under control of the Federal Govt will NOT be reopening for the forthcoming WAEC Exams. Says WAEC should suspend exams, and urges State Govts to toe the FG line. “This is not the right time to reopen.”

"Minister of Education Adamu Adamu, just now at #FECBrief: I appeal to State Governments that have announced schools’ resumption to reconsider it. I think it’s not safe. Let’s protect our children.

"Says Federal Schools (Unity Schools) will not be reopening even for WAEC Exams."

It is not yet known if WAEC will suspend the exams as the minister advised or whether state governments will follow the advice of the federal government.

At the moment, the directive only applies to the secondary schools under the control of the federal government, that is, the unity schools.

Adamu also said there is no date for school resumption yet, adding that he would prefer Nigerian students to lose an academic year to expose them to danger.

Also, the minister's announcement has left Nigeria's social media space buzzing since Wednesday as many offer diverse reactions.

Dr. Dípò Awójídé, @OgbeniDipo, tweeted: "The Federal Govt & National Assembly will have to find a way to compensate students who will miss WAEC this year.

"Perhaps for next year, allow anyone with 150 & above in JAMB exam get into the Uni of their choice. There are no easy solutions. But those in charge must provide them."

Another Twitter user, @TheDodoLover, commented: "So what was WAEC thinking, trying to kick off the examination and throwing all safety responsibilities on the schools?"

Amin Beli S, @amin_beli, asked the Rivers state governor to plead with the federal government to rescind its decision on the WAEC exams.

His tweet: "@GovWike: Your Excellency. Kindly lend your quality voice, to plead with the Fed. Govt, to rescind its cancellation of August WAEC Exams. Also, kindly mobilize fellow Governors & other relevant stakeholders, to create safe VENUES from the Covid-19 spread."

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Meanwhile, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, candidates preparing to write the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) will be mandated to wear face masks when the exam commences on August 3.

The examination body stated that everyone at exam venues will be required to wear a face mask.

Patrick Areghan, the head of national office of West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on Tuesday, July 7, made the disclosure at a news conference held at the examination’s body headquarters in Yaba, Lagos.

He said writing the examination during the COVID-19 pandemic would pose challenges due to the large number of candidates taking part in the exams.

Legit.ng earlier reported that following the increasing cases of coronavirus in the country, the federal government warned the state governments against the reopening of schools because of pressure from the children and parents.

Nwajiuba, who spoke on Monday, June 22, while reacting to questions at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, also said the Federal Ministry of Education did not give Oyo state any guidance to reopen schools.

COVID-19: Parents speak on allowing their children return to school | Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng