As reactions continue to trail the suspension of resumption of school and the consequent cancellation of Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) by the minister of education, Adamu Adamu, a facebook user, one Godwin Okoibono, said many do not understand the implication of resuming school when the coronavirus pandemic is still ravaging the nation.
He wrote: “Some people do not understand the risk hazards for children during a pandemic. It’s not easy for children, after a long time of not seeing your friend to obey social distancing rules. And once a child contracts the disease, the spread wide fire. The number of cases will have spiked up. If you truly love children, you’ll be patient for now. The government knows what they are doing.”
His reaction followed repeated calls for school resumption and the decision of the federal government to resist the urge to open schools for learning and examination. The minister of state, Emeka Nwajiuba, had earlier announced the resumption of school for the final year students in primary six, Junior School 111 and Senior Secondary 111. He said the examination would commence on August 4 through to September 5, 2020.
But in a twist of event, the minister for education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, reversed the directive, insisting that schools would not resume as it is not yet safe for the congregation of children in the school environment. His belief is predicated on the fact that the coronavirus pandemic is still ravaging the nation, growing in leaps and bounds, hence resuming school at this critical time.
He said students under the federal ministry of education would not go back to school now, hence they will not participate in the 2020 WAEC examinations. He also pleaded with governments all over the country to align with him and keep the schools until it is safe to reopen schools for learning and eventual examination.
The WAEC examination is written in five countries of Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Gambia and Sierra Leone. These are the English speaking West African countries, otherwise called Anglophone countries. WAEC had earlier given directive to schools and students on how to prepare for the examination. The head of the WAEC national office in Nigeria, Patrick Areghan, had told Nigerians that the exam would hold with all the supervisors fully kitted in their personal protective equipment (PPE).
Amidst WAEC preparation, the announcement cancelling the examination came banging. But some parents and teachers, especially teachers in private schools, are calling for the head of the minister for the education. Some are saying he is an illiterate and not fit to handle the education ministry. Some say he has destroyed education for attempting to shut down education for one full year.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? DO YOU AGREE WITH HIM?
