The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Services wants to approach President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) on a fixed date for the 2020 West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSSCE).
The Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere (APC-Edo), said there was need for stakeholders to be on the same page and to commence diplomatic efforts to get the other countries in the region on Nigeria’s side concerning the yet-to- be agreed examination date.
He explained that in the interest of 1.6 million candidates that registered for the exams, there was a need to agree on a date for the regional examination as time was running out for the country.
The Head of WAEC National Office in Nigeria, Mr Patrick Areghan, informs the committee that it required time to print question papers and that other convoluted logistic considerations might come into play.
According to Areghan, Ghana had wanted to have the examination in June because its an election year in the country, but shelved it because of Nigeria.
He revealed that it took a presidential directive for Gambia to shelve its desire to have the examination before now.
“Nigeria should decide on if it wants to give its candidates a COVID-19 exam certificate or a WAEC certificate in concert with the other countries.
“Getting parents to pay another set of fees might be difficult if the September date is missed; if the November option is considered, someone has to pick the bills,” he said.
Recall that lawmakers deliberated on the need to use Nigeria’s power as provider of about 60 per cent of the finances for the exams to dictate a date.
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