By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The Federal Government on Wednesday stuck to its gun not to allow students in the country take part in this year’s West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) despite trenchant criticism across the country.
The education minister, Adamu Adamu, explained the government’s decision last week. He said the government was concerned about the spread of COVID-19 should it allow the students congregate for the examinations, organised by the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
But since then, many Nigerians, including former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, have disagreed with government’s position.
The House of Representatives has also passed a resolution urging government to rescind the decision
On Wednesday, the six Southwest states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti, resolved to reopen schools for SSS3 students to participate in the examination next month.
Their decision is contrary to the position of most of the 19 northern states, which supported the federal government’s decision to suspend school reopening for SSS3 students due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the federal government reiterated its stance on Wednesday but said it was meeting stakeholders on the matter.
“We are still meeting with parents over the decision of the ministry,” the minister of state for education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, told journalists after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting.
“What the minister (Mr Adamu) said reflects the true position of the ministry; we are not confident yet that everywhere is safe. The numbers from the NCDC are still alarming and we have put this before parents and all the stakeholders in the education ecosystem, we are still meeting with them. In fact, there’s a stakeholders’ meeting convened for Monday.
“WAEC on its own part is also negotiating with other West African countries to look at possible shift in date. Once they are through with that meeting and hopefully when we are through with the consultation with stakeholders, if there’s any change in the ministry’s position, we will communicate.
“But as it stands, the position of the Honourable Minister, as communicated to you last week, remains the position of the ministry until further evidence to the contrary or further agreements that may alter those arise,” Mr Nwajiuba said.
