In view of the recent time-table issued by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) for the 2020 WASSCE Examination which includes Saturdays for examinations contrary to the biblical directives to remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy being the fourth of the 10 commandments referenced in Exodus 31:14-15; Leviticus 19:3,30; Leviticus 26:2; Deuteronomy 5:12 and other places in the bible we present our protest to the use of our institutional premises as venue for such exams.

Further, bearing in mind the legacy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and the disciples who kept the Sabbath to lay the foundation for the present and future generations to do same as referenced in Luke 4:16 (And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read) Acts 13:14; Acts 17:2 and many other places in the bible we protest to the use of our institutional premises as venue for such exams.

Being guided, also, by Article 18 (1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which postulates that “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have a religion or whatever belief of his choice” and Article 18 (1) of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights which dictates that “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching” and (2) which also mandates that “No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice” we hereby call on WAEC and its allied supporting national Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Education to either change the timetable of find different venues for the candidates.

We wish to communicate strongly to all parties associated with the conduct of official examinations on Saturdays to withdraw all such intentions to allow our members to enjoy their legitimate right of worship and the practice thereof.

Being aware of COVID-19 and its devastating effects on human lives and culture across the globe, we wish to make our position known to the effect that no examination shall take place in any Adventist Institutions whose candidate are taking exams on the scheduled Saturdays from WAEC. We wish to state emphatically that if WAEC cannot change the timetable to befit the universally accepted working days in line with the Weekly Rest Convention and Labour Laws During Saturdays, different venues should be found for their students as all classrooms and halls shall be locked up and be made unavailable for any secular activity including taking official examinations planned by WAEC.

Further, being directed by Article 6 of the Weekly Rest (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1957 (No. 106) by the General Conference of the International Labour Organisation which stipulates as follows that;

1. All persons to whom this Convention applies shall, except as otherwise provided by the following Articles, be entitled to an uninterrupted weekly rest period comprising not less than 24 hours in the course of each period of seven days.

2. The weekly rest period shall, wherever possible, be granted simultaneously to all the persons concerned in each establishment.

3. The weekly rest period shall, wherever possible, coincide with the day of the week established as a day of rest by the traditions or customs of the country or district.

4. The traditions and customs of religious minorities shall, as far as possible, be respected.

And in agreement with  the article and clauses above we call on WAEC and all educational Ministries, Department and Agencies whose students are writing exams on the premises of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Senior High Schools to find different venues for their candidates and that no student shall be allowed to use the Church’s institutional premises for any examination whatsoever.

Signed by Concerned Seventh-day Adventists to be acted upon by the Ministerial Officers and External Parties