The West African Examination Council (WAEC) Monday started the Senior School Certificate Examination with Mathematics amidst fear of mass failure and the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Federal Government had earlier suspended the May,June WASSCE over the Coronavirus pandemic,but reopened on August 4 for students in exiting classes in Nigeria.
In Maria Goretti Secondary School,Benin City, Edo State,the examination Started at about 10.00am, with full compliance to the COVID-19 rules.
The Senior Secondary School Principal,Mrs Gertrude Obaseki said there is apprehension over what will be the performance of the students,having spent five months at home and with only one week for revision before the examinations which started 17 of August. She said the school promoted 400 students to SS 3,but had 97,whom enrolled with the school for the examination.
According to her.”We are just praying that the students do well, they have been at home for the past five months and now the examination is here, while some states started on August 4, Edo started on August 10,just a week to the examination.
“You know this is a girls’ school, most of the girls help their parents in business and other economic actvities. Though,the Edo State Government started online lessons,but how many of them have access to the Internet, even when they do, where is light for such things.? We promoted 400 students,but only 97 enrolled with us, others have gone to miracle centres,and we don’t tolerate such things here ” She concluded.
At Niger College in Upper Sakponba Road,Benin City, the examination also started at about 10.00am in full compliance with the guidelines on COVID-19 as prescribed by the NCDC with over 300 students,who enrolledfor the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.
A teacher,who does not want his name in print, because he does not have the right to speak for the school, said the students were taken through revision in the last one week,and concluded that the serious ones will pass,while the unserious ones are going to fail even if you teach them for a whole year.
” You can see,we are ready for the exam,we are complying with the COVID-19 rules as given by the Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control, though it was just a week of revision,we did our best,the serious ones will pass, while the lazy ones will fail,even if you teach them for one year,not all will pass.”
Also,some students expressed optimism over the exam. Jude David who is sitting for the exam at Mesh Secondary School, Idahor Street,off Upper Sakponba Road,Benin City said,he is ready for the exam, having participated in the online lessons organized by the Edo State Government for the SSCE students.”I am ready,the state government organized an online class for us and on my own,I attended lesson classes.So I am ready for the exams.”
Another student at Imaguro Girls Secondary School,Spale Road,Benin City, Agnes Iyioha said, though the period for revision was very short,she is optimistic that she will pass the exams. According to her.
“I am confident, that I will pass my exams in flying colours,I will pass, because I have studied my books during the lockdown,and I am ready.”
