ERC Condemns WAEC’s Relocation Of Students To Ondo, Delta States
The Education Rights Campaign (ERC) has
condemned the decision of the West
African Examination Council (WAEC) to
relocate 1,742 candidates sitting for the
ongoing November/December West African
Senior School Certificate Examination in
Edo State to Ondo and Delta states,
thereby increasing the financial expenses
on poor working class guardians.
In a statement, the national coordinator,
Hassan Taiwo Soweto stated that the
decision of WAEC is exploitative and
insensitive.
“As a public institution, WAEC has a
responsibility towards candidates, their
parents and guardians. That responsibility
involves ensuring that in circumstances of
this nature, candidates, their parents and
guardians are not unnecessarily over
burdened”, he said.
He, however, disclosed that WAEC took the
decision to relocate the candidates
because of the Edo State gubernatorial
elections which was scheduled to take place
on September 10, the day the candidates
are expected to sit for Mathematics 1 and
2.
Furthermore, he demanded that WAEC
bears the full cost of this relocation
including cost of transportation and,
where needed, accommodation of the
candidates.
“As far as we are concerned, since the
candidates and their parents were not
responsible for the relocation, which was
forced by the coincidence of the
examination date with the date of the Edo
gubernatorial elections, WAEC must bear
the full cost including ensuring a hitch
free exercise and the safety of the
candidates”, he added