Can State Governments Agree to Open Their Schools for the Conduct of WASSCE without FG Participation?

There has been a lot of debate as to whether other State Governments should follow the move by the Oyo State Government to open its schools and let its students sit the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations this year.

I think this is a right move in the right direction and it's a move that should be applauded by all rather than being vilified.  Once again, it seems the Oyo State Government is living up to it's slogan of Pace Setter. 

Contrary to what some persons have said that the State Government has no power to do this, it's totally untrue. Education is on the CONCURRENT LEGISLATIVE LIST, meaning both the State and Federal Government can legislate on it and that's why the Minister merely ADVISED and not COMPELLED State Governments to reconsider their decision to open schools. The Federal Government can only enlist the support of State Governments in this and not coerce them.

Evidence suggests that the Federal Government has not shown enough commitment to education. This lack of commitment can be seen in the ever dwindling budgetary allocation to the sector over the years. While some State Governments are being proactive by ensuring their schools are COVID-19 procedure compliant, one can say, the Federal Ministry has been largely slumbering. I personally saw officials of the Rivers State Government fumigating state-owned schools about three weeks ago. I doubt if the same can be said about Federal government-owned schools at this point. I stand to be corrected though.

The only problem that may arise is Oyo State may be a lone voice in the wilderness in this bold step but if many State governments who, unlike the Federal Government think they are ready follow suit, there's absolutely nothing the Federal Government can do about it. The Federal Government can only try to bully the Council because of its stake in WAEC heaped on our numerical strength as a nation. Remember, WAEC is not owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

One wonders why other smaller and poorer West African States are ready for the conduct of the examinations but the GIANT is not ready. Very sad indeed. Who knows whether this bold move will wake up the sleeping giant in us.

Children's lives matter and we must protect them with all we have. But the question is, is government really trying to protect children as claimed or it is merely using this as an excuse to cover up it's ineptitude for not doing the necessary things in public schools? Afterall, the same children still go to the malls, markets, churches and mosques. Are schools not safer than some of these places? Since only examination classes are involved, can't they make jolly use of the whole school facilities, provided the safe procedures are in place? But the truth is, these procedures are not in place in public schools and with the bureaucratic bottleneck, making common hand sanitisers available in these schools may take months and one must understand this, but should everyone suffer as a result of this?

Since the Federal Government is appealing to State Governments not to go ahead with their plans, I'll also use this medium to appeal to the Federal Government to allow State Governments decide what is best for them in line with what the President said in one of his broadcasts. Majority of private schools and some state schools are ready and prepared. Let's not punish the majority because of lack of preparedness by the minority. An academic term is a huge milestone in the life of a student. 

COVID-19 is real and we have to accept the fact that it is deadly but we also need to accept the fact that it has come to stay and we need to be prepared for it. Postponing the examinations without utilizing the time to judiciously ensure the right things are in place is a colossal waste of time. We need to be proactive.