The Federal Government has said its decision to halt schools’ resumption and postpone participation in final examinations for secondary school students remains intact.
Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, last week told State House Correspondents that schools would remain shut and final year students would not write the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) until the Ministry considered it safe.
The Minister considered reopening schools and allowing academic activities, including writing examinations, too risky, considering the rising spread of coronavirus.
The decision was received with mixed reactions, drawing huge outcry from a section of the population, including the National Assembly, which called on President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Ministry to rescind its position.
However, speaking to State House Correspondents after the eighth virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, Minister of State for Education, Chief Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, said the position remained unchanged.
He however pointed out the Ministry was still consulting with education stakeholders on what the best position should be, adding the West African Examination Council (WAEC) had also started consultations with West African nations on a possibility of shifting dates.
“We are still meeting with parents over the decision of the Ministry. What the Minister said reflects the true position of the Ministry; we are not confident yet that everywhere is safe, the numbers from the NCDC are still alarming and we have put this before parents and all the stakeholders in the the Education ecosystem, we are still meeting with them. In fact, there’s a stakeholders’ meeting convened for Monday.
“WAEC on its own part is also negotiating with other West African countries to look at possible shift in date. Once they are through with that meeting and hopefully when we are through with the consultation with stakeholders, if there’s any change in the Ministry’s position, we will communicate, but as it stands, the position of the Honourable Minister, as communicated to you last week, remains the position of the Ministry until further evidence to the contrary or further agreements that may alter those arise,” Nwajiuba said.

By Bolaji Ogundele