IGP asked to provide security as WASSCE begins Monday

The West African Examinations Council says adequate measures are in place for the safety of all candidates that registered for its 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates.

The council’s Head, National Office (HBO), Patrick Areghan, gave the assurance during an interactive session with newsmen on the level of  preparations ahead the examination nationwide, on Thursday in Lagos.

Areghan stated the examination had been scheduled for Monday to  Friday,  spanning a period of seven weeks.

He said the council could not feign ignorance of the level of insecurity in the country, hence  conducting examinations under such  situation had been a daunting task.

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According to him, there are many flashpoints all over the country, and conducting examinations in such areas requires extra security arrangement.

“Consequently, we are liaising with the Inspector-General of Police, Brigade Commanders, other security agencies and the various state governments to provide security.

“This is in order to ensure that the examination is conducted under a secure and safe environment.  We have also sought the intervention of the Minister of Education in this respect.

“Similarly, our zonal and branch offices have reached out to various security outfits in their respective locations for assistance. Courtesy visits and other forms of appeals have been made and we have been assured of full cooperation of the security agencies to this effect.

“If and when the need arises, schools in insecurity-prone areas would be relocated to safe havens, with the full approval, cooperation and participation of the Federal or State Government concerned,” he said.

Speaking further, Areghan noted that a total of 1,621,853 candidates from 20,851 secondary schools across the country had registered for the examination. (NAN)