By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Secondary schools in Nigeria have been directed to resume from Tuesday, August 4, 2020, only for exit classes writing external examinations.
This directive was contained in a press statement issued on Monday by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Ben Bem Goong.
Mr Goong said the federal government agreed to reopen the schools following a meeting it held with stakeholders in the sector today.
Present at the gathering, which was virtual, were officials of the Federal Ministry of Education, Commissioners of Education of the 36 states, the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), the proprietors of private schools and chief executives of examination bodies.
It was stated that at the meeting, it was agreed that the students should be allowed to resume and prepare for the external exam for two weeks.
The WAEC examination is scheduled to commence from August 17, 2020.
Before now, the federal government was considering cancelling the exam for Nigeria this year, but some stakeholders kicked against it, arguing that the present global health crisis caused by COVID-19 should not make students in the exiting classes loses an academic year.
“Secondary schools in the country are to reopen as from August 4, 2020, for exit classes only.
“Students will have two weeks within which to prepare for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) due to start on August 17, 2020.
“These were the unanimous decisions reached today at a virtual consultative meeting between the Federal Ministry of Education, Commissioners of Education of the 36 states, the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), the proprietors of private schools and chief executives of examination bodies,” the statement said.
“It was agreed that the exit classes should resume immediately after the Sallah break from August 4, 2020, to enable them to prepare for the WAEC examinations scheduled to commence on August 17, 2020,” it added.
“The meeting also resolved that a passionate appeal be made to the federal government through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) of COVID-19 and public-spirited Nigerians for assistance to schools across the country to enable them fast track the preparations for safer reopening as agreed,” it stated further.
“Another meeting is to be convened tomorrow between the Federal Ministry of Education and chief executives of examination bodies namely; NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS to harmonise their examination dates, which will be conveyed to stakeholders expeditiously by the Federal Ministry of Education,” it noted.