The Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu, has reacted to the recent exam schedule by the West African Examination Board (WAEC).
The Exam board had on Tuesday announced that it has rescheduled the exam date between 3rd August to 15th September.
The Head of the Nigeria National Office of the West African Examination Counsel (WAEC), Mr. Patrick Areghan addressed a Press Conference on the conduct of the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2020 examination.
During the press conference, the Exam head also stated the conducts and COVID-19 guidelines to be observed by candidates, school officials as well as the invigilators.
Mr Areghan in the briefing, said schools must provide: wash hand buckets with running water, soaps, Hand sanitizers, thermometer han-gun to check candidates. He also stated that All examination functionaries must including school officials must wear face masks, wash and sanitize their hands daily during the exam session.
Speaking of the seating arrangements, the exam head said the general public must adhere strictly to social distancing in the exam halls by ensuring that candidates seat at least 2/3 metres apart in the examination hall.
The minister of Education while reacting to this said that final year students preparing for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) will not be allowed to return to school contrary to what had earlier been believed.
Addressing State House correspondents after the virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in Abuja on Wednesday, Adamu stated that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) cannot determine the resumption date of schools for Nigeria.
Gistoftheday reports, that he said he would prefer that Nigerian students lose an academic year than to expose them to dangers.
He appealed to States that have announced the resumption of school in their states to reconsider their position so as not to jeopardize the lives of the students, adding, “It is not safe to reopen schools now.”
