Senior secondary school students in the Federal Capital Territory have begun their West African Senior School Certificate Examination despite an ongoing strike by teachers that has paralysed academic activities across primary and secondary schools in the territory.

Reporters who visited several FCT schools on Tuesday morning observed that SS3 students at multiple government secondary schools had commenced the examination, starting with practical subjects. At Government Secondary School, Kwali, invigilators were seen monitoring students during their practical sessions. At Government Secondary School Hajj Camp in Gwagwalada, examinations were also in progress, with students writing the Food and Nutrition practical paper.

An invigilator at Hajj Camp, who declined to be named, confirmed that the WAEC examination commenced with the Food and Nutrition practical test. A teacher at GSS Kwali, Mrs Rosemary Akindele, stated that the strike had no bearing on the conduct of the examination.

"The ongoing teachers' strike has nothing to do with the students writing WAEC because this is a West African examination which has nothing to do with the ongoing strike," Akindele said.

Students were equally observed sitting the examination at Government Girls Secondary School Dutse and Government Secondary School Kubwa 2, both in the Bwari Area Council. At GGSS Dutse, a boarding school for females, some students were still returning to campus after participating in the recently concluded JAMB examination.

However, no students were present at Government Secondary School Phase 3, Kubwa, during the visit. A school official explained that students there were not offering the Food and Nutrition practical paper written on Tuesday, adding that the school would fully participate when the main examination begins on April 27. The official further disclosed that teachers had completed all necessary revision sessions with students before the strike commenced.

Outside the examination halls, the strike remained firm. Teachers barricaded the entrance gates of primary and secondary schools across the territory, with classrooms locked and pupils absent. Only security personnel and union teachers were seen on the premises.

Teacher Gabriel Moses said the action would continue until their demands were met. "We are abiding by the directive of the FCT NUT, hence, 'no retreat no surrender' until the minister addresses our demands, which is why we are at the school gate this morning again," Moses said.

Attempts to reach FCT Nigeria Union of Teachers chairman Comrade Mohammed Abdullahi Shafas were unsuccessful, as he indicated through a telephone call that he was in a meeting and would respond later.