Stakeholders in the education sector on Thursday frowned at the decision taken by the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) not to allow sick candidates to sit in the forthcoming November/December examinations.
WAEC had on Wednesday asked sick candidates to stay away from the examination centers.
It said barring sick students from writing the exams was part of its contribution to halt the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus.
WAEC also said that it would employ the use of hand gloves, masks and sanitisers in the centers.
However, a cross section of Nigerians, who spoke in Abuja, said the announcement was uncalled for.
Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, President, Parents -Teachers Association (PTA), said WAEC had taken a wrong decision as it had already entered into a contract agreement with the candidates.
They called for candidates to come and register without making this statement as part of the conditions for meeting the required qualifications.
The candidates have already registered and what right do they have to stop them from writing the examination now.
If at all there is anything, the best thing to do for the children is to invite medical personnel to screen them before the examination,'' he said.
Danjuma called on the council to put appropriate measures in place to check the candidates before the examination or ask them to come along with medical report.
He also advised the council to reconsider its decision, adding that it should take measures to avoid any legal issue with the candidates.
Mr Emeka Okonta, the Coordinator, Unity Colleges, Federal Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), said the decision by WAEC was inappropriate.
Okonta said the examination body should derive other means to check the dreadful virus before the examination.
He called on WAEC to partner with the ministries of Health and Education to fashion out ways of testing the candidates before the examination.
WAEC had on Wednesday asked sick candidates to stay away from the examination centers.
It said barring sick students from writing the exams was part of its contribution to halt the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus.
WAEC also said that it would employ the use of hand gloves, masks and sanitisers in the centers.
However, a cross section of Nigerians, who spoke in Abuja, said the announcement was uncalled for.
Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, President, Parents -Teachers Association (PTA), said WAEC had taken a wrong decision as it had already entered into a contract agreement with the candidates.
They called for candidates to come and register without making this statement as part of the conditions for meeting the required qualifications.
The candidates have already registered and what right do they have to stop them from writing the examination now.
If at all there is anything, the best thing to do for the children is to invite medical personnel to screen them before the examination,'' he said.
Danjuma called on the council to put appropriate measures in place to check the candidates before the examination or ask them to come along with medical report.
He also advised the council to reconsider its decision, adding that it should take measures to avoid any legal issue with the candidates.
Mr Emeka Okonta, the Coordinator, Unity Colleges, Federal Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), said the decision by WAEC was inappropriate.
Okonta said the examination body should derive other means to check the dreadful virus before the examination.
He called on WAEC to partner with the ministries of Health and Education to fashion out ways of testing the candidates before the examination.
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