The House of Representatives on Tuesday asked the Federal government to reverse its decision on preventing Nigerian candidates from participating in this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) organised by the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
Similarly, members asked President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the ministry of Education to put in place the required safety measures that would enable Nigerian pupils to participate in the annual regional examination.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Nnoli Nnaji on the need to allow students to participate in the 2020 examination which was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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According to Nnaji, the Minister of State (Education), Emeka Nwajubia, had earlier announced that Nigeria would be participating in the exam before this was countered by the minister of Education, Adamu Adamu that Nigeria would not participate in the annual examination.
The lawmaker, who described the two announcements as confusing, said that non-participation would have a negative impact on the students, adding that the exam dates were fixed after consultation with health experts and the five governments in the council.
He said, “The choice of the date was not arbitrary, rather, WAEC consulted extensively with the government of all the countries that makes up the council
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“I am worried by these contradictory pronouncements by the two Ministers within a short period of time. I’m worried that Nigeria’s non participation in the annual exam portends psychological, social-economic and negative health for the students and their already overburdened parents and guardians.”
He explained that the decision would frustrate the students and be devastating on both Nigeria’s education system and its economy at large.
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“By taking precautionary measures, the Federal Government reopened the market, airports, inter-state travel and religious centres. The government should apply the same measures,” he added.
The motion was adopted without debate by the members of the House with the House directing the House committees on basic Education and health services, legislative to ensure compliance.
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