2020 WASSCE begins with tough COVID-19 safety protocols

The 2020 West African Senior
School Certificate
Examination (WASSCE) for
school candidates on Monday
commenced across the country
under strict COVID-19
protocols.
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.
Patrick Areghan, the Head of
National Office (HNO) of the
West African Examinations
Council (WAEC), told
journalists during an inspection
tour of some centres in Lagos
that he was impressed with the
level of compliance with the
COVID-19 protocols.
“Firstly, let me offer thanks to
God that the much-awaited
examination for this year has
finally commenced today.
“As I speak, this examination is
going on simultaneously across
all member states in the region.
“As you already know we have
visited a couple of schools in the
state on this first day of the
examination and I will like to
say I am highly impressed with
what I saw on ground in terms
of compliance level by everyone
participating in this
examination.
“We all observe the rules by
washing our hands with soap
and water, carry(ing) out temperature
checks, use of hand sanitisers and face
masks or shields.
“Even the sitting arrangement of the
candidates are very well established by
ensuring a two-meter gap from each other.
“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,” the
HNO said.
Mr Areghan warned that the council would
deal decisively with any act of malpractice,
irrespective of who was involved.
He warned principals of schools that they
would equally not be spared, if any act of
malpractice was recorded in their respective
schools during the duration of the ongoing
examination.