By Florence Ebebe. Education Editor
Mr Patrick E. Areghan, the Head of National Office (HNO) of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), on his first meeting with the press on Tuesday at a news conference in Lagos, expressed council’s readiness to conduct the much-awaited WASSCE for School Candidates, 2020.
The examination was earlier scheduled to take place between the 6th of April and 5th of June, 2020, but due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic, it was postponed.
Areghan, said “That the examination will now hold between 3rd August and 5th September, 2020”
He added that, “The exam will covering a space of five (5) weeks and would be held from Monday through Saturday, in order to be able to achieve the five-week span.”
Read Also: WAEC Postpones 2020 Examination
A total of One Million Five Hundred and Forty Nine Thousand Four Hundred and Sixty Three (1,549, 463) candidates have registered for this exam from 19,129 schools, out of this number 786,421 are males and 763,042 are females.
According to Areghan, “The choice of the period (August 3 to September 5) for the conduct of the examination was made after extensive consultation with governments of all the five member-countries.”
“In deference to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the five-week arrangement was arrived at in order to make room for the other Examining Bodies to equally conduct their examinations in good time.”
“During the waiting period, we continued to fine tune and perfect all arrangements for the smooth and successful conduct of the examination and I am happy to inform you that we are set to conduct the examination in Nigeria.”
According to him, “In conducting the examination, we have taken due cognizance of the various measures/protocols rolled out by the Federal and State governments of Nigeria, aimed at checking the spread of the pandemic.”
“We have encapsulated all these measures in a pamphlet which will be circulated to all stakeholders for their necessary guidance.”
He said, “for the sake of emphasis, schools must provide wash-hand buckets with running water, soaps, hand sanitizers and thermometer hand-gun to check the temperature of all concerned.”
“All examination functionaries, including the Council’s staff on distribution; Supervisors; Invigilators, Inspectors; candidates and school officials will be required to wear face masks, wash and sanitize their hands daily and throughout the duration of the examination.”
“Let me assure you and the general public that we shall adhere strictly to social/physical distancing in the examination halls by making sure that candidates sit two (2) metres apart.”
“This means that many more classrooms will be used and many more supervisors and invigilators will be required to conduct the examination.”
“This has certainly raised the supervision fee to be paid to supervisors as well as the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to staff.” He said.
“This examination is going to be conducted under a very unfriendly atmosphere and conditions.”
“I will like to use this opportunity to advise all schools and candidates to make the best use of the situation in order to turn adversity into success.”
“I must not fail to warn all schools and candidates to shun any form of examination malpractice.”
“Lack of preparedness is not an excuse to cheat.”
“Schools and candidates must resist the temptation of patronizing dubious websites that claim or would claim to have examination questions at their disposal.”
“The Final International Timetable has been sent to all the WAEC Zonal and Branch Offices for onward dispatch to schools and Federal and State Ministries of Education.”