Reno Omokri, a popular Nigerian author, public affairs analyst and the former spokesman for Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has condemned Federal government’s decision to suspend the 2020 WAEC Examination.
In a tweet, he wondered why the examination would be cancelled when millions of people were allowed to attend Friday Jumat and Sunday service.
Reno noted that the decision to cancel the examination makes no sense as he also threw a jab at President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Every Friday, millions of Nigerians sagely attend Jumat prayers. Each Sunday, millions more practice social distancing in churches. If we can go on with religion, why can’t we go on with education? Cancelling WAEC makes no sense! We don’t want to be like Buhari” Reno tweeted.
Meanwhile, the Committee on Basic Education and Services in the House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government not to cancel the forthcoming WAEC Examinations.
2020 WAEC Examination
According to a statement issued by the Chairman of the committee, Prof.Julius Ihonvbere, stakeholders were not informed beforehand.
The lawmakers emphasised that cancelling the examination would further create confusion in the education sector.
The committee noted that it received with amazement the announcement by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu that Nigerian students would not be partake in the forthcoming WASSCE examinations.
The Minister was accused f not making it clear if the decision was in agreement with other West African leaders or in consultation with the examination bodies and other stakeholders in the education sector.
The examination body was advised to quadruple its invigilators and use all classrooms and event centres to conduct the examination and comply with COVID-19 guidelines.
Moreover, the ministry of Science and Technology, as well as the Ministries of Environment and Health, were tasked to work out an agenda to fumigate all classrooms.
The Ministries were also asked to provide hand washing bowls with soap and water, and face masks to all students.
You will recall that the examination was scheduled for August 5 and September 5 before the Minister of Education announced that schools under the control of the federal government will not participate in the examination.
However, Adamu appealed to WAEC to reschedule the examination because of the pandemic.
In the meantime, the examination body has opined that the five-member countries has the legitimate power to make decisions about the change in the date of the examination.
The WAEC’s Head of Nigeria’s Office, Patrick Areghan, said the examination body was still reviewing the situation and that it would make its position known soon.
