By Chidinma Ufomadu
A non-governmental organization in Abuja, OpenFees, has said that the Federal Government has no reason to prevent students from participating in the 2020 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WAEC).
The NGO made this suggestion based on the fact that some states in the country are going to conduct elections for political office despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and as such, students should be allowed to participate in the WASSCE.
The statement, which was titled “WASSCE: If You Can Hold Elections, Students Can Take Exams –OpenFees Tells FG” was revealed by its Portfolio Coordinator, Stephanie Ronald, OpenFees, on Monday.
The statement read, “Science, technology and rigorous enforcement of hygiene and social distancing rules are already making it possible for schools elsewhere to reopen gradually and there is no reason why we can’t use that here.
“We are particularly concerned that JSS3 and SS3 students in public schools, most of who have not had significant learning because of poor access to online resources, would have to wait for another year before taking their final exams.
“If government can invest half the time and resources it wants to use to conduct elections, in spite of COVID-19, to provide safe environment for students, it should be possible for these final-year students to take their exams without too much difficulty.”
They further advised the Federal Government not to gamble with the education of Nigerian students but come to a verdict “for the sake of students whose future is at stake.”
