In a bid to provide a safe environment for students set to participate in the 2020 West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations, the council has released safety guidelines for the conduct of this year's exams on Tuesday.
Mr. Emeka Nwajiuba, the Minister of State for Education made the disclosure during the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.
Speaking, Head of Nigeria's National WAEC Office, Mr. Patrick Areghan urged State governments and corporate organizations to provide funds for the procurement of personal protective equipment for WAEC officials deployed to conduct the examination.
"In conducting the examination, we have taken due cognizance of the various measures/protocols rolled out by the federal and state governments of Nigeria aimed at checking the spread of the pandemic.
Schools must provide wash-hand buckets with running water, soaps, hand sanitizers, and thermometer hand-gun to check the temperature of all concerned.
"All examination functionaries, including the council’s staff on distribution; supervisors, invigilators, inspectors, candidates, and school officials will be required to wear face masks, wash and sanitize their hands daily and throughout the duration of the examination.
"Let me assure you and the general public that we shall adhere strictly to social/physical distancing in the examination halls by making sure that candidates sit two meters apart.
This means that many more classrooms will be used and many more supervisors and invigilators will be required to conduct the examinations.
"This has certainly raised the supervision fee to be paid to supervisors as well as the provision of Personal Protective Equipment to staff, supervisors, and other examination officials.
No doubt, all these measures have financial implications, which were not contemplated at the time of drawing up the budget for the conduct of the examination.
"He also said the international timetable for the exams slated to commence on August 4 to September 5, 2020, has been sent to the council's zonal branches for compliance.