The founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola has told the Nigeria Government that caution should be taken on the decision to cancel the 2020 West Africa Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, noting such decision is capable of breeding frustration and promoting criminality among the 1.5million who registered for it.
Babalola stated this in a titled statement ‘Nigeria’s non-participation in the 2020 WASSCE: Irreparable damage,’ on Tuesday, indicating that “A year of idleness for 1.5milloin people may breed fr5ustration and promote criminality.”
He said “If the Federal Government insist that there would be no WASSCE this year, the students are not just losing one year calendar, but losing an integral part of their entire lives which is gone forever by such declaration. We should always remember that after all, “time is life and life is time.’
“The Federal Government should allow the WASSCE take place in the empty spaces which are wasting away in our tertiary institutions, secondary schools and elementary schools which can conveniently accommodate them with a lot of social distancing and due compliance with world Health Organisation rules.”
Reacting to the directive by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu stating that schools will not be reopen until it is safe to do so and that Nigeria student in graduating classes would not participate in WASSCE, the legal luminary added “It is my firm belief that the future of this 1.5 million Nigerians who have registered for WAEC should not be put in jeopardy. It is well known fact that all schools, colleges and tertiary institutions in the country are currently shut down. This affords the Federal Government the the opportunity to use them for WAEC examination.
“ What the government should do is to prepare the empty rooms for WAEC examination- fumigate the halls and premises, use face mask, provide sanitizers and ensure that WHO rules are obeyed to the letter,” He said.
Babalola was also bewildered that among the five West African Countries, it was only Nigeria that withdraw from participating in the examination.
He questioned: “What steps have the other countries taken which would enable her to take WAEC or the general body of WAEC in Accra before the declaration of withdrawal to Nigeria?
“Did the Hon. Minister take into consideration the moral and legal implication of Nigeria as a signatory to WAEC laws or the effect of such unilateral declaration of withdrawal?
“All that is required to take the WAEC examination is proper management, consultation, and discussion instead of unilateral cancellation of annual international convention.”
Reactions has trailed the Minister of education Adamu Adamu’s comment, directing schools not to open for examination or any reason, even WASSCE, until it is safe to do so, the Minister was quoted as saying that “WAEC will not determine for us what to do. Schools will remain closed.”
