Nigeria’s House of Representative has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to reconsider his decision to cancel the 2020 West African School Certificate Examination, (WASCE).
According to the lawmakers, the country should rather opt for strict adherence to safety guidelines issued by Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control, NCDC rather than the cancellation of the exam scheduled to take place from July 20, 2020, adding that it would have dire consequences on the country.
The lawmakers made those concerns in a motion sponsored by the East/West Federal Constituency Representative Hon Pharm Nnolim Nnaji Nkanu.
“The negative and culminating effects of the government‘s action in seeking to withdraw Nigerian students from the examinations will be devastating on our educational system and Nigeria’s economy at large,” the lawmakers said.
‘’The choice of August 3 to September 5, 2020, period for the conduct of the examination was not arbitrarily set, rather, WAEC consulted extensively with the government of all the five countries that constitute the council before arriving at the new exam date and duration,” the house added.
WAEC Set Date for WASSCE 2020 Exams
The West African Examination Council has set July 20 through to September 5, 2020, for this year’s WASSCE examination.
The five-week-long examination is expected to take place in all its member states including Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and The Gambia.
However, on July 8, the Nigerian government announced the indefinite postponement of the WASSCE examination amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
Buhari under fire over the cancellation of examination
Since the cancellation of the exams was announce the country’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has come under a series of criticism with others describing the decision as evil.
President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari. Image / premiumtimesng.com
On Friday, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri was reported to have said that the president was trying to spread illiteracy across Nigeria.
Former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar also said the cancellation would put Nigeria at risk because most countries’ economy has its basis on education adding that the decision was not in the interest of the country.
The National Coordinator Concerned Advocates for Good Governance, CAGG, Nigeria, Olusegun Bamgbose, Esq. also indicated that the decision lacks merit and substance.
Many others have reacted angrily to the cancellation.
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