The private school operators in the country have lamented that some parents of their students, who registered for this year’s West African Senior Secondary School Examination (WASSCE) being conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) as well as that of the National Examinations Council (NECO) have started to approach them for a refund of their children’s registration fees for both exams.
They opined that parents were doing so based on the uncertainty surrounding the conduct of the two exams as the federal government has pulled out all the 104 unity school students nationwide from participating in WASSCE, which is already scheduled to commence on August 3rd.
National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), the umbrella body of private schools owners, said this at a virtual press conference in Lagos, on Monday.
Speaking to newsmen on behalf of the group, the national president, Chief Yomi Otubela, said even though the said money had since been remitted to WAEC and NECO, parents had reasoned that they would use the money to register their children for a similar exam in the neighbouring countries.
He insisted that this is the reason why the government would have to reconsider its decision concerning the exams by reopening schools gradually and also allowing students to sit for the exams.
Stating several other reasons which he considered more important, the NAPPS helmsman said the conduct of the exam would, among others prevent students from going through emotional trauma due to the suspension of the exam having fully prepared for it and also known that their peers in other member countries would participate.
He stated: “The exam would also avoid them a situation where they will be forced to go to neighbouring countries such as Ghana, among others to register for the same exam and that would not be good for Nigeria’s image, or may make them lose interest in education and because of that embrace social vices without minding repercussion on themselves and the society.”
He added that since the closure of schools, private schools had been preparing towards resumption by providing for the required safety equipment such as running water and soap for hand-washing, Infra-red thermometers, sick-bay, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and so forth.
Also he said in addition to that, students in terminal classes are fewer and would, therefore, be easily monitored and controlled as regards the social/physically distancing and the adherence to other safety guidelines.
Otubela, who decried that COVID-19 pandemic had really taken a huge toll on them and their workforce since no revenue was coming in since the closure of schools, also lauded the federal government for the release of N2.3 trillion stimulus package to support teachers’ salary and the Central Bank N50 billion single digits intervention loan to cushion the effect of the pandemic on schools.
He said they were waiting for the release of the fund and the execution of the loan facility.
Otubela insisted that the gradual reopening of schools and the conduct of the external exams even in this COVID-19 pandemic would do the country no harm but good.
