WAEC, NECO exams postponement indefinite, says Government

* To announce a new resumption date to all stakeholders ─Minister

* Students to learn via different channels including Radio, Television
Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect
The Federal Government of Nigeria has said the continued closure of educational institutions, including the post-primary schools in the country over the wild COVID-19 pandemic remains indefinite.

Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Minister of State for Education, at a media briefing in Abuja, FCT, Tuesday, April 21, stated that the postponement the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) exams is indeterminate.

Recall that in March 2020, the Federal Ministry of Ministry of Education had closed tertiary institutions, secondary and primary schools as a preventive measure to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Nwajiuba, who noted that public education services are on the concurrent legislative list, said the Federal Government would announce a new resumption date to all stakeholders.

“As you are aware, we have announced that WAEC and NECO for the year (2020) have been postponed. This postponement at the moment is indefinite.

“As soon as we arrive at a definite time, we will recommunicate that. We will also be looking at what we will do in order for schools to reopen.

“As you will recall, we asked that schools vacate in the late part of March as soon as this broke.

The Minister further stated that communication will be a coordinated effort among all the states because the lockdown in various parts will definitely affect how students go to school or not or how teachers come to school or not.

“So it goes with that saying that nobody can reopen schools now except we coordinate all of that effort,” he said.

He solicited the cooperation of parents regarding efforts put in place to render online services to students staying at home during the lockdown period.

Meanwhile, Malam Adamu Adamu, Honourable Minister for Education, has directed the Ministry through the Directorate of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to enable students to learn online for the time being.

Again, Nwajiuba explained that the Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Culture plans to transmit educational content to Nigerians.

Currently, about 14 to 15 states in the country, including Lagos and Anambra States run some educational content to carry students along, he said.

The Minister of State for Education stressed that “right now, what has happened is that those 14 or 15 states have already commenced learning via different channels that are available in their states, mostly Radio and local TV stations.

“What they are running is an approved NERDC curriculum. That is ongoing at the moment.

“Not all the states have started the programme but mostly Anambra, Lagos, a few states, about 14 of them.”

He added that his ministry is also working with the Ministry of Information and Culture through NTA and the Federal Radio Corporation to improve what they have as their education content so that they can provide for everybody.

“They are still working on that, it is ongoing,” he said.