GCE EXAMS: Protest looms as students, parents call for postponement

THERE is tension in Edo ahead of the September 10 governorship
election, as students writing the General Certificate of Education,
GCE, examinations and their parents have vowed to stage a protest
over alleged refusal of security agents to exempt those writing the
examination from restriction of movement during the polls.
Vanguard learned that the WAEC had written security agents to
allow students participating in the examination movement this
Saturday but it was said that security agencies rejected the request,
explaining that it may jeopardise security arrangement for the
election.



Security agents are arguing that allowing the students movement
will give thugs the opportunity to disrupt the election since most of
the polling units to be used for the elections are in the schools.
It was learned that the authorities of the examination body are now
suggesting that the students may  to travel outside Edo state to
participate in the examination, a suggestion the students and their
parents are kicking against due to the inconveniences it will cause
them.
According to one of the parents, who craved anonymity: “We are
complaining that things are difficult they are now telling us to take
our children outside Edo state, where are we going to get the money
to keep them in a hotel and how are they going to read to review the
paper they have the next day? Or are they going to travel that same
Saturday when there will be no movement?
“ It is a complicated situation which the Federal government or even
the INEC should look into because WAEC said they cannot shift their
exams just because one state is holding a governorship election. So,
if they have the interest of our children at heart, both INEC and the
Federal government should come together and shift the election in
Edo state so that the money we paid as parents will not be a waste.
‘’After all the election is only holding in Edo State they can still hold
it another day but GCE examination is across the country and
according to WAEC they cannot shift that of Edo because it is the
same question across the country. We are mobilising ourselves to
stage a protest this week to draw the attention of the world to our
plight. Our children have been preparing for this examination and
they cannot waste one year because of the governorship election in
Edo state.’’