COVID-19 Patient Writes WAEC in Kwara

The Kwara State Government has disclosed that one of the final year students who contracted the coronavirus disease in the state has been permitted to write her West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at an isolation centre under the close watch of WAEC officials.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor, Mr Rafiu Ajakaye.

According to the statement, the 16-year-old female COVID-19 patient will be writing her exam at the Kwara State COVID-19/Infectious Disease Centre in Ilorin, the state capital.

It noted that the female WAEC candidate, whose name and school were undisclosed to avoid stigmatisation, is asymptomatic, fit and in stable condition. She was admitted into the facility on Tuesday and has been permitted to write her Agricultural Science exam on Wednesday.

“The person in question is one of the final year Senior Secondary School students that have enrolled for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination, and she’s right here writing her exam. She is asymptomatic, which means she does not show any symptoms, and she’s stable. She is just here to observe her two weeks isolation process.”

“We have certified that she’s both mentally and physically fit to write her exams. She was in close contact with a close relative of hers that tested positive. It was through contact tracing that she happened to be tested positive.”

“The candidate was admitted yesterday (Tuesday). She missed a paper yesterday, and we informed the authorities because as child advocates, once she had enrolled for WAEC, the government felt she has the right to write her papers. That’s why the state government thought it wise to arrange for her in order not to miss other papers.”

It emphasised that the Kwara State Government has isolated the victim in a safe place in order to stop the spread of the disease amongst other students.

“The state government deemed it fit to arrange for her to have a safe place for her to write the exam without the fear of stigmatisation or risk to other students.”

The Kwara State Government directed SS3 students in the state to resume on the 5th of August 2020.