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Nigerian Education & the FG: a tragedy

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected almost all countries, halting activities across all sectors; ranging from the economy, down to Education.
However, as the days pass by, many countries find it necessary to adopt to life with the virus; trying as much as possible to observe safety precautions while resuming slowly to normal activities.
The case is no different in Nigeria where the interstate travel ban have been lifted and there is gradual easing of restrictions all over the country. Commercial activities are beginning to return. However, there seems to be no hope of educational activities returning just yet as the Hon. Minister of education briefed newsmen shortly after the FEC meeting on Wednesday 8th, July, 2020 that: even though WAEC made preparations to administer exams in August 2020, FG schools will note resume school until when they feel it is safe.
The question remains: when will it feel safe? Every year more than 1m students sit for the WAEC exams across the country and need the result to go further into the higher institutions. Considering WAEC as a multinational examination body, the decision of Nigeria alone may not deter them from their plan; which means our students might be left with no choice but to join the next year exams.
Education stakeholders have since started condemning such a stand, with the National assembly calling on the FG to reconsider her stand. Majority of the masses feel if school promises and other government buildings will be utilised for the exams checkmate social distancing, more personnel engaged in supervision and invigilation, the use of facemask and sanitizers emphasize; the examination activity can be carried out with minimum fear of the virus.
In another development, the FG is convinced of going ahead with governotorial elections in the states of Ondo and Edo in recent months. Citizens are now asking if these elections are more important to the government than education. How can social distancing and other measures be out in place and strictly adhered to at polling units?

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