Legal giant and founder of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Chief Afe Babalola, has tackled the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, over his decision to cancel resumption of final students towards taking part in the 2020 West African Secondary Schools Examination.
Adamu cancelled government’s initial decision for the candidates to sit for the exam between August 4 and September 5, citing coronavirus threats.
But Babalola said the design was legally and diplomatically faulty, noting that it would inflict psychological trauma on the students involved.
He said in a statement titled ‘Nigeria’s non-participation in the 2020 WASCE: Irreparable damage,’on Tuesday: “If the Federal Government insists that there would be no WASSCE this year, the students are not just losing one calendar year, but losing an integral part of their entire lives which is gone forever by such declaration. We should always remember that after all, ‘time is life and life is time’
“The Federal Government should allow the WASSCE to take place in the empty spaces which are wasting away in our tertiary institutions, secondary schools and elementary schools which can conveniently accommodate them with a lot of social distancing and due compliance with World Health Organisation rules.”
“It is my firm belief that the future of these 1.5 million young Nigerians who have registered for WAEC should not be put in jeopardy. It is a well known fact that all schools, colleges and tertiary institutions in the country are currently shut down. This affords the Federal Government the opportunity to use them for WAEC examination.
“What the government should do is to prepare the empty rooms for WAEC examination – fumigate the halls and the premises, use face mask, provide sanitizers and ensure that WHO rules are obeyed to the letter.
“Are we saying that the other four countries do not appreciate the lives of their students? Why was the issue not turned over to the Nigerian body of WAEC or the general body of WAEC in Accra before the declaration of withdrawal to Nigeria?
“Did the Hon. Minister take into consideration the moral and legal implication of Nigeria as a signatory to WAEC laws or the effect of such unilateral declaration of withdrawal?
“All that is required to take the WAEC examination is proper management, consultation, and discussion instead of unilateral cancellation of annual international convention.”
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