Reopening schools
The National Parents Teachers’ Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has expressed its dissatisfaction about the announcement made by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, that Nigerian candidates for West African Senior School Certificate Examination slated for August 4 will not be allowed to sit for the examination due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the hestitation to reopen schools.
Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, NAPTAN National President,in an interview on Thursday, said the association had resolved to meet Adamu on Monday to discuss the situation .
NAPTAN had asked the government to reopen schools “to pupils who will be sitting external examinations of the West African Examinations Council and the National Examinations Council.”
The Minister’s announcement came as a surprise to the association as there was no prior notification on the suspension on reopening schools. According to Haruna,
“Surprisingly, we heard from the Federal Ministry of Education that the government has suspended the reopening of schools. This is very confusing; we don’t know what to do. We are waiting for whatever will come after this.
On our side at NAPTAN, we are planning to go to the ministry and meet with the minister or his representatives to hear from them. It should be on Monday.”
NAPTAN said it was working hand-in-hand with schools in putting up protective measures such as handwashing containers, hand sanitizers and face masks to help minimise risks for students.
Emeka Nwajiuba, the Minister of State for Education, had during the press briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 last Monday announced that the 2020 WASSCE would hold between August 4 and September 5.
But on Wednesday, Adamu said on all federal schools would remain closed until it was safe to reopen them and that state governments that had announced reopenings should rescind the decision.