A report claims that the Lagos state government would reopen schools in the state on August 3 for senior secondary school three (SS3) students who are preparing for the 2020 West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE). According to the Tribune newspaper, the decision was taken following a meeting between the Lagos ministry of education and leaders of various private school owners at the Alausa secretariat in Ikeja on Thursday, July 23.
Lagos state reportedly plans to reopen schools for lesson classes for the SS3 students ahead of their exams. The newspaper stated that the state government would on Monday, July 27, release the guidelines for the reopening schools strictly for lesson classes for the SS3 students ahead of their exams.
However, all other students at secondary and primary schools, as well as tertiary levels in the state, would still stay at home until further notice. Sources told the newspaper that the yet to be released guideline requires schools to enforce COVID-19 safety measures such as registration with government-approved hospitals in case of an eventuality, infrared thermometers, and readiness to comply with other safety guidelines and protocols.
Speaking on the issue, Emmanuel Olaniran, the head of public affairs of the office of quality assurance, said the guidelines for reopening would be made public on Monday, July 27. It is recalled that the federal ministry of Education ordered the closure of tertiary institutions, secondary and primary schools nationwide following the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country as part of measures to contain the spread of the disease.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has said it may allow final year secondary school students (SS3) to sit for the General Certificate Examinations (GCE) in November if they are excluded from writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The minister of state for education, Emeka Nwajiuba, made the disclosure on Thursday, July 23, during the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing in Abuja, The Nation reported. He said writing the GCE may be the only option for SS3 students if the West African Examination Council (WAEC) proceeds with the WASSCE scheduled to take place between August 4 and September 5.
