The Head of the Nigeria National Office for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Dr. Amos Dangut has appealed for an exemption from the ongoing nationwide strike by organised labour to ensure the smooth conduct of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) which began on April 30, to end on June 24, 2024.
The strike, initiated on June 3, 2024, is in response to the Federal Government’s refusal to raise the proposed minimum wage from N60,000. Speaking to newsmen, Dangut expressed solidarity with Nigerian workers but highlighted the critical impact of the strike on students’ examinations.
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“We appreciate the suffering everyone is going through. At WAEC, we are not isolated from these challenges. If our children do not write the exams to fit into a global scenario, they will be at a major disadvantage,” Dangut stated.
He underscored the importance of the exams for students’ futures and urged stakeholders to facilitate an environment where the exams can proceed without disruptions.
“Let us allow our children to take the exams so they can compete with other children worldwide. We share the pains of the workers, but for the sake of our children, we must allow them to write the exams.”
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Dangut emphasized the need for cooperation from all involved, noting that if essential staff like teachers or gatekeepers do not perform their duties, it could hinder the students’ ability to sit for their exams.
“We have a mandate to conduct exams and we are prepared, but we need an enabling environment,” he concluded.