The Federal Government has said that schools will not resume now. It also stopped students from participating in the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations scheduled for between August 4 and September 5.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, disclosed these to State House Correspondents at the end of a meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
The Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, had during the press briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Monday announced that the 2020 WASSCE conducted by WAEC would hold between August 4 and September 5.
Before then, the PTF had directed the reopening of schools for students in graduating classes of Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 and Senior Secondary School 3 to enable them prepare for their final examinations.
But Adamu said on Wednesday that all federal schools would remain closed until it was safe to reopen them.
He also urged state governments that have announced school’s resumption plans to rescind such.
Adamu stated that WAEC could not determine the resumption date of schools for Nigeria.
He said he did “not mind Nigeria losing a whole school year than exposing our children to danger.”
The minister said, “Our schools will only open when we believe it is safe for our children and that is when the situation is right, not when the incidence of the infection is going up in the country. I just want to make it clear.
“We will not open soon for examination or for any reason, unless it is safe for our children, even WAEC. WAEC will not determine for us what to do. Schools will remain closed.”