…late arrival of WAEC papers caused delays, with some centers starting the WASSCE at 8 pm
The iNews Times reports that dozens of students sitting for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at Government Secondary School, Namnai, in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State, narrowly escaped death when their classrooms collapsed during a heavy downpour accompanied by a windstorm on Wednesday evening.
The iNews Times learnt the incident, which occurred around 6pm, trapped students, teachers, corps members, and external supervisors under the rubble.
Residents responded swiftly to rescue those trapped.
Several students sustained injuries, including fractures, and are receiving treatment at a nearby Primary Healthcare Centre.
An eyewitness, Alhaji DanAzumi Lauris, said the collapse happened shortly after the second batch of students began their exams.
“The rain came suddenly with strong winds, and the old classroom structures couldn’t withstand it,” he said.
The windstorm also destroyed several homes in the community.
In a related development, students in Jalingo, the state capital, faced challenges due to the heavy rainfall, with some forced to remain at exam centers until after 1 am.
The iNews Times gathered that late arrival of WAEC papers also caused delays, with some centers starting exams at 8 pm.
Efforts to reach the Commissioner for Basic Education, Dr. Augustina Godwin, were unsuccessful at the time of filing the report.
