Final year students in secondary schools across the country are expected to resume classes across the country from August 4. The students are expected to resume so they can take part in the upcoming senior secondary school examinations organized by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) on August 17.
The resumption date was announced by the ministry of education through its Director of Press and Public Relations, Ben Goong, who said the decision was reached after a meeting with stakeholders in the education sector on Monday.
Excerpts from the statement said,
“Secondary schools in the country are to reopen as from the 4th of August, 2020 for exit classes only. Students will have two weeks within which to prepare for the West African Examinations (WAEC) due to start on the 17th of August, 2020.
“These were the unanimous decisions reached today at a virtual consultative meeting between the Federal Ministry of Education, Honourable Commissioners of Education of the 36 states, the Nigeria Union of Teachers, (NUT), the proprietors of private schools, and Chief Executives of examination bodies.
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“It was agreed that the exit classes should resume immediately after the Sallah break, from the 4th of August, 2020 to enable them prepare for the WAEC examinations scheduled to commence from the 17th of August, 2020.
“The meeting also resolved that a passionate appeal be made to the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 and public spirited Nigerians for assistance to schools across the country to enable them fast track the preparations for safe reopening, as agreed.”
Another meeting is expected to hold on Tuesday between the Federal Ministry of Education and chief executives of major exam bodies across the country, including NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS.
The meeting is expected to reach a resolution on the harmonization of examination dates which both parties can agree on.
The Federal Government had reversed an earlier decision it made in July for the reopening of schools. It said at the time that secondary schools under the control of the Federal government would be exempted from writing WAEC.
Outcry from Nigerians including members of the House of Representatives and stakeholders in the education sector forced the government to reconsider its decision.