By Kemo Cham
The 2020 timetable calendar of the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Exams (WASSCE) has been suspended, Politico has learnt.
A statement dated March 19 from the headquarters of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) said they move was taken as a measure against the ongoing global Coronavirus pandemic.
“The negative impact of the novel and deadly COVID-l9 pandemic and the subsequent protocols put in place by governments of member countries to prevent the spread of the disease have serious implications for the conduct of WASSCE for School Candidates, 2020 as agreed by the National Offices,” the statement reads in part.
It says the decision was the result of a proposal from the Secretariat, which was approved by the Chairman of the Council.
It adds that the directive will be reviewed for possible rescheduling of the exams when the global health situation improves.
WAEC, headquartered in Ghana, is a sub-regional examination body mandated to conduct public exams for the five English speaking countries in the West Africa region – Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Gambia and Sierra Leone.
WASSCE, usually conducted in May and June every year, is one of several examinations the body conduct. The suspension of the exams now means the usual academic calendar will now be further disrupted.
In Sierra Leone the college academic year starts in October. A disruption in the exams timetable now means universities will have to readjust their calendars to accommodate the new intakes from secondary school at a much later date.
The WASSCE certificate is the means of entrance to university in all member countries.
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