Coronavirus: FG Gives Update On Schools Reopening, WASSCE 2020

Federal Government has given an update on schools reopening and WASSCE 2020 amid coronavirus in Nigeria.

NewsOne Nigeria reports that the Minister of state for education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, has maintained that the reopening of schools in Nigeria was not possible at the moment.

This minister’s statement is coming Federal Government had ordered the closure of schools since March to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19). It also stopped Nigeria schools from participating in the 2020 West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Addressing journalists at the end of the eighth virtual federal executive council meeting, on Wednesday, the Minister of state for education said schools would remain closed till adequate safety is assured.

The Minister of state for education also revealed that the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) was in negotiation with other countries in the region over the possibility of shifting the 2020 exams.

Nwajiuba said: “We are still meeting with parents over that, we are not confident, yet that everywhere is safe, the number of COVID-19 infections from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is still very alarming, and we have presented this to parents and all stakeholders in the education ecosystem.

“We are still meeting with them; in fact, there is a stakeholder meeting slated for Monday next week.

“WAEC on its own part is also negotiating with other West African countries to look at possible shifts in date, and once they are through with that meeting and hopefully when we are also through with the consultations if there is any change in the ministry’s position, we will communicate.”