Gbenro Adesina
The 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) on Monday August 17, 2020, started in Nigeria in strict adherence to Coronavirus protocols.
The examination earlier scheduled to hold between April 6 to June 5, 2020 was suspended as a result of the outbreak of Covid-19.
It was gathered that 1,550,000 candidates registered to sit for the examination in 19,129 centres in Nigeria.
Monitoring the exam in Lagos, the WASSCE Head of National Officer (HNO), Patrick Areghan, was impressed with the level of compliance with the COVID-19 protocols in the examination centres visited.
He said, “Firstly, let me offer thanks to God that the much awaited examination for this year has finally commenced today. As I speak, this examination is going on simultaneously across all member states in the region. As you already know, we have visited a couple of schools in the state on this first day of the examination and I will like to say I am highly impressed with what I saw on ground in terms of compliance level by everyone participating in this examination. We all observe the rules by washing our hands with soap and water, carry out temperature checks, use of hand sanitisers and face masks or shields. Even the sitting arrangements of the candidates are very well established by ensuring a two-meter gap from each other. So, if you ask me, I will say I am very impressed with the level of the compliance of the COVID-19 safety protocol and the smooth take-off of the examination”.
He urged the candidates writing the examination not to be involved in any examination mal-practices, stressing that the council would deal decisively with anyone caught involving in the act and principal of the school such act is discovered would equally face the wrath of the law.
Areghan said, “Right now, with the aid of technology, we have caught a supervisor in Nasarawa and a candidate in Rivers trying to snap a question paper and send outside for solution. These persons have since been handed over to the security agents for necessary actions. We will stop at nothing to ensure that the integrity of our examinations is not compromised. I will like to let you know that the Federal Ministry of Education is very interested in the process and conduct of this examination. In fact, as we speak, the Minister of State for Education is currently in Imo to monitor the examination too, just like all other top officials of the ministry. So, together, we will ensure that this examination comes out highly successful”.
