The Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Olasunkanmi Olaleye, has announced that the state government is yet to decide if students in the state will write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) this year.
Olaleye also asserted that the state’s schools would remain open for students in SSS3 to continue preparation for WASSCE, pending the state’s decision.
However, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, on Wednesday, had announced that secondary school students preparing for their final examinations will not be able to return to school any time soon because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Olaleye maintained that the state will take its own stand based on its assessment of the prevailing situation.
While stating that the Federal Government’s directive was specifically for its schools, Olaleye said the state’s schools remained open in compliance with COVID-19 protocols.
“I listened to the federal minister of education and he was emphatic about FG schools. We have resumed in Oyo state and you must have seen the level of compliance to COVID-19 protocols by our schools.
“If you go to our schools, you will see that our senior students are still learning and the preparation for WAEC is ongoing.
“Examination is part of educational development. So the state government will assess the situation especially because of the fact that WAEC is an integral part of educational development hence it cannot be ignored.
“WAEC is a regional examination that involves five countries so we are waiting for the reaction of WAEC. The state government will then assess the situation,” Olaleye said.