The federal government has said the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination will commence on August 17.
It also directed secondary schools in the country to reopen for students in exit classes to sit for the exams.
With this development, students will have only two weeks to prepare for the WAEC.
A statement signed by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Goong, noted that these decisions were taken at the a virtual consultative meeting between the Federal Ministry of Education, Commissioners of Education of the 36 states, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT), the proprietors of private schools and Chief Executives of examination bodies.
Goong said stakeholders at the meeting resolved that the exit classes should resume immediately after the Sallah break to enable them prepare for the exam.
“These were the unanimous decisions reached today at a virtual consultative meeting between the Federal Ministry of Education, Honourable Commissioners of Education of the 36 states, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, the proprietors of private schools and the Chief Executives of examination bodies.
“It was agreed that the exit classes should resume immediately after the Sallah break, from the 4th of August 2020, to enable them to prepare for the WAEC examinations scheduled to commence from the 17th of August 2020.
“The meeting also resolved a passionate appeal be made to the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 and public spirited Nigerians for assistance to schools across the country to enable them fast track the preparations safe reopening, as agreed.
“Another meeting is to be convened tomorrow between the Federal Ministry of Education and Chief Executives of examination bodies namely NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS to harmonise their examination dates, which will be conveyed to stakeholders expeditiously by the Federal Ministry of Education,” the statement said.