Covid-19: House of Representatives tells Buhari to reopen schools partially for students to write WASSCE - getviewupdates

The House of Representatives called on President Buhari to order the partial re-opening of schools to allow students to attend the 2020 West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination. Buhari has been urged to reopen schools across the nation.

The House made a call to the plenary on Tuesday following the unanimous adoption of a motion by a Member, Nnolim Nnaji.

Earlier on Friday, the Committee on Basic Education and Services had failed the Federal Government's decision to suspend the plan to partially reopen schools for final-class pupils to take external exams.

The committee had particularly criticized the decision of the West African Examination Council for the academic session 2019/2020 to disallow Nigerian pupils from sitting for WASSCE.

Schools have been shut down at all levels since March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier in June, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 had said the federal government had approved the resumption of pupils in graduate classes, including Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 and Senior Secondary School 3, in what it called "safe reopening of the schools."

In approving the resumption of graduating classes, the government said water had to be provided in hand-washing schools and both pupils and teachers had to wear face masks while watching social distance.

Later, the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, had announced during the PTF's press briefing that the WASSCE 2020 would be held from 4 August to 5 September.

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But minister of education Adamu Adamu, at the end of last Wednesday's Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by the President, said all federal schools would remain closed until reopening them was safe.

Adamu also urged state governments to rescind such plans that had announced the resumption of the schools.

The minister stated that WAEC was unable to determine the date for Nigeria 's schools to resume. He alleged the council announced the review date while the government was still consulting stakeholders about what to do.