WASSCE begins nationwide with delay in Ibadan [PHOTOS]

The 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination(WASSCE) began nationwide, earlier today, TopNaija reports.

The exam, which ought to have started in May, was delayed by COVID-19 pandemic. And it almost didn’t take place over fears that its centres could become spreaders of the coronavirus.

TopNaija visited Babs Fafunwa Grammar School, Ojodu and Agindingbi Grammar School, both in Lagos. Authorities ensured that candidates wore face masks and also maintained a physical distance while in class. Lagos state government distributed face masks to all schools.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 1,550,000 candidates would be participating in this year’s examination spread across 19,129 centres nationwide. The examination, which was supposed to commence on April 6 to June 5, was suspended due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Patrick Areghan, the Head of National Office (HNO) of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), told newsmen during an inspection tour of some centres in Lagos that he was impressed with the level of compliance with the COVID-19 protocols.

”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,” Areghan said.

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Mrs Bolarinwa Oluyinka, Vice-Principal (Academic), Ansar-Ud-Deen High School, Ibadan, said, “I cannot say the reason why the WAEC supervisor is late; immediately the person is here, we are already set, and we will commence the examination.

“We have already put COVID-19 safety protocols in place and we have observed them.”

Mrs. Grace Oluwasogo, the Chief Invigilator, Isabatudeen High School, Ibadan also said that the sitting arrangements were made in line with the WAEC procedures.

She said: “Provision has been made to put the candidates into the classroom, if the external examiner feels the hall is too crowded with the number of candidates writing the examination.”

Mr Fasasi Abdullahi, Principal, Islamic High School and Chairman, Oyo State Committee on Safety Protocols for Schools on WASSCE, noted that the committee had sensitised all the secondary schools in all parts of the state to that effect.

“The examinations are about to start and we are expecting the question papers from WAEC. Our students are ready, we have arranged the chairs for them and we are observing all the necessary protocols concerning COVID-19.

“The sanitiser is there, washing hand basins and digital thermometer for checking students’ temperature, as well as the face masks are available,” Abdullahi said.

Mrs Folasade Ayodele, the Principal, Oba Akinbiyi Model School, Ibadan, noted that the main hall was being earmarked for the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) for the JSS III students, hence the use of classrooms, corridors and laboratories for the examinations.

“Other schools that don’t have where to write the WASSCE joined our school; there will be enough space when the BECE exam is over on Tuesday.

“The students have washed their hands before they entered the exam hall and they are all using their face masks and we are observing social distancing.

“We are starting late because it is the first day. It is always like that during the first day, because of materials,” Ayodele said.