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Tag: NECO

  • NECO accredits more foreign schools for SSCE, BECE

    NECO accredits more foreign schools for SSCE, BECE

    The National Examinations Council (NECO) has accredited additional foreign schools to write the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

    This is contained in a statement by NECO’s Acting Director, Information and Public Relations, Mr Azeez Sani, on Saturday in Abuja.

    Sani said the development was aimed at broadening the Council’s horizon and expanding its global presence.

    According to him, the newly accredited schools are located in Niger Republic and Equatorial Guinea.

    “The NECO Accreditation Team visited these schools to assess their readiness to write the SSCE and BECE.

    “The team inspected various facilities, including classrooms, laboratories, libraries, computer laboratories, workshops, examination halls, and sports facilities.

    “After a thorough evaluation, the schools were granted full SSCE and full BECE accreditation status.

    “This accreditation is a testament to NECO’s commitment to providing quality education and assessment beyond Nigeria’s shores.”

    Sani said with its expanding global presence, NECO was poised to become a leading examination body in Africa, offering opportunities for students worldwide to benefit from its expertise.

    In another development, Sani said candidates would participate in the ongoing NECO SSCE external examination in Diffa, Niger Republic.

    “The UNHCR School in Diffa, Niger Republic, is the first NECO SSCE external centre outside Nigeria.”

    It would be recalled that NECO examinations are now written by candidates in several countries, including Benin Republic, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, Niger Republic, Equatorial Guinea, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

  • BREAKING: NECO releases 2024 internal results

    BREAKING: NECO releases 2024 internal results

    The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) internal results.

    Professor Dantani Wushishi, the NECO’s Registrar/Chief Executive made this known on Thursday, September 19, while briefing journalists in Minna during the release of the 2024 SSCE internal results.

    According to Registrar, the examination body de-recognized one school in Ekiti state for mass cheating in two core subjects and one science subject, and blacklisted 21 supervisors in 12 states.

    He noted that the blacklisted supervisors were recommended for poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness, and negligence.

    The NECO boss provided a further breakdown of the results, “The number of candidates that sat for the exam is 1,367,736, comprising 702,112 males and 665,624 females.

    “The number of candidates with five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, is 828,284, representing 60.55%.

    “The number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, is 1,147,597, representing 83.90%.”

    Wushishi disclosed that this year’s figures showed a significant reduction regarding examination malpractice, compared to last year.

    He stated, “The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437, compared to 12,030 in 2023, indicating a reduction of 30.1%.”

    The registrar, however, revealed that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.

    He said, “During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination, 40 schools were found to have engaged in whole-school (mass) cheating in 17 states. They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied. One school in Ekiti has been recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and one Science subject.

    “Similarly, 21 supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness, and negligence in 12 states.”

  • BREAKING: FG makes u-turn on WAEC, NECO age limit

    BREAKING: FG makes u-turn on WAEC, NECO age limit

    The Federal Ministry of Education has clarified that the ministry has not stopped students who are not up to 18 years old from writing the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) exams.

    The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, made the clarification in Abuja on Friday while fielding questions from journalists at an event to mark the 2024 International Literacy Day (ILD). Sununu said that the public misconception and misinterpretation of what was said by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, was highly disappointing.

    He said that the minister was actually speaking on the 18 years entry age into the tertiary institutions as was practiced in the 6:3:3:4 system of education.

    “We have agreed that we are going to consider it as a work-in-progress. The National Assembly is working and we are also working. It was shocking to say that a university in this country gave admission to children at ages 10, 11 and 12 years. This is totally wrong.

    “We are not saying that there are no exceptions, we know we can have talented students that have the IQ of an adult even at age 6 and 7, but these are very few.

    “There must be a rule, and the ministry is looking at developing a guideline on how to identify a talented child, so that parents don’t say we are blocking their children’s chances. Nobody said no child will write WAEC, NECO or any other examination unless at age 18. This is a misconception and misrepresentation of what we have said,” he said.

    Speaking on the International Literacy Day, Sununu underscored the critical role of literacy in fostering mutual understanding, peace and socio-economic development. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing literacy challenges through the Education for Renewed Hope roadmap (2024-2027).

    He highlighted youth and adult literacy as key components, while emphasising the importance of using learners’ mother tongues as a medium of instruction.

    “We must focus on the role of a learner’s first language in becoming literate, which will foster mutual understanding and peace,” he added.

    He also emphasised the need for well-trained educators who should be equipped to teach in local languages, as well as the development of follow-up reading materials in these languages.

    On his part, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education (NMEC), Prof. Simon Akpama, reaffirmed the Commission’s dedication to integrating multilingual education into schools’ literacy programmes.

    “In an increasingly interconnected world, multilingual education is not just a necessity, it is a tool for fostering peace and cultural respect,” he said.

    Meanwhile, UNESCO’s Country Representative, Mr Diallo Abdourahamane, re-echoed that literacy remained a fundamental human right, hence the need to create a just, peaceful and sustainable society.

    The ILD which is celebrated annually on Sept. 8, is aimed at highlighting the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace.”

  • FG told to suspend age limit for WAEC, NECO

    FG told to suspend age limit for WAEC, NECO

    A group, Education Rights Campaign, has called on the Federal Government to suspend the 18 years age limit for taking the West African Examination Certificate (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO). Mr Hassan Soweto, National Coordinator of the group made the call in an interview on Thursday in Abuja.

    Recall the Federal Government recently announced a new policy setting the age limit for WAEC and NECO candidates at 18. The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, instructed WAEC and NECO administrators of the Senior School Certificate Examinations to enforce the policy.

    Soweto described the policy as needless and unnecessary. According to him, government should suspend the move and address other educational policies that directly affect students, and the education system in the country.

    “The minister’s statement is trying to force us into a needless controversy rather than on how to make the education system work. We recognise the need to protect our children but this policy is an attempt to weed out many students from gaining admission probably because of insufficient space in the universities,” he said.

    Soweto said that the 6-3-3-4 education system responsible for producing students from 18 years who should be eligible for admission into universities had failed. He said this calls for concern and not the introduction of another policy.

    The coordinator appealed to the government not to punish students who had proven to be exceptional, by passing the WAEC and NECO examinations. He urged the government to address issues of double and triple promotion of students to other classes, especially in private schools and early admission of children into primary and secondary schools.

    “There is need to have a proper conversation with stakeholders on educational development. The age limit policy will look like a punishment to thousands of students who are exceptionally brilliant and have qualified to be admitted into universities.

    “We must insist that this policy be suspended; stakeholders’ discussion on all the metrics is also required. There should be a national summit by government to re-examine the 6-3-3-4 system. There, stakeholders can make input and the national education policy updated.

    “Government is also expected to address challenges such as poor education funding, perennial strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), poor infrastructures, and brain-drain,” Soweto said.

  • No admission for underage children from next year – FG

    No admission for underage children from next year – FG

    The federal government (FG) has instructed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) not to allow underage children to write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to seek admission in any university in the country. Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman disclosed this on Sunday.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the FG has also instructed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) not to allow underage children sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), respectively.

    According to Mamman, the age limit for any candidate to gain admission into any university in the country remained 18 years, while insisting that underage candidates will no longer be allowed to sit for secondary school leaving examinations.

    The Minister, who made these disclosures when he featured on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics programme, said: “It is 18 (years). What we did at the meeting that we had with JAMB (in July) was to allow this year and for it to serve as a kind of notice for parents that this year, JAMB will admit students who are below that age but from next year, JAMB is going to insist that anybody applying to go to university in Nigeria meets the required age which is 18. For the avoidance of doubt, this is not a new policy; this is a policy that has been there for a long time.

    “Even basically if you compute the number of years pupils, and learners are supposed to be in school, the number you will end up with is 17 and a half – from early child care to primary school to junior secondary school and then senior secondary school. You will end up with 17 and a half by the time they are ready for admission. So, we are not coming up with new policy contrary to what some people are saying; we are just simply reminding people of what is existing.

    “In any case, NECO and WAEC, henceforth will not be allowing underage children to write their examinations. In other words, if somebody has not spent the requisite number of years in that particular level of study, WAEC and NECO will not allow them to write the examination.”

    The minister went further to give a breakdown of the number of years pupils are expected to spend between child care and senior secondary school.

    According to him, early care is expected to last for the first five years. Pupils are expected to begin primary one at the age of six, spend six years in primary school and move to junior secondary school at the age of 12, spend three years, before moving to senior secondary school at the age of 15, to spend three more years and leave for university at the age of 18.

  • NECO reveals number of students that registered for this year’s SSCE

    NECO reveals number of students that registered for this year’s SSCE

    The National Examinations Council (NECO) has revealed that 1,376,391 candidates have registered for the ongoing 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination, SSCE, (internal) conducted by the examination body.

    Prof. Dantani Wushishi,  the Registrar/Chief Executive of NECO, revealed this on Wednesday after monitoring the examination at some centres in Enugu.

    According to a statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs, Azeez Sani, the NECO boss, Prof. Wushishi who expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the examination in the centre, disclosed that reports received from across the nation indicated that the examination is going on smoothly.

    He attributed this success to the various measures put in place to ensure a seamless exercise.

    According to him, due to some innovations put in place, the menace of examination malpractice is on the decline.

    The registrar admonished candidates to work hard in order to have a good grade in the examination, stressing that “there is no shortcut to success”.

    “He disclosed that since the commencement of the examination, he had monitored the exercise in Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia, Imo, and Anambra States to have first-hand Information on the Conduct of the examination with 1,376,371 registered candidates.”

  • NECO debunks extending closing date of SSCE internal registration

    NECO debunks extending closing date of SSCE internal registration

    The National Examinations Council, (NECO) has denied extending the closing date for the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal registration.

    According to the examinations body, the registration which started on Monday 18th December, 2023 will close on Monday 3rd June, 2024.

    NECO stated that the closing date has not changed adding that late registration which attracts the late registration fee is between Tuesday 4th June, 2024 to Monday 10th June, 2024.

    The Council enjoin candidates, school Principals, Commandants, State Ministries of Education and other Stakeholders to disregard Social Media posts purporting that the registration period has been extended to Monday 20th June, 2024,” NECO stated in a statement by the acting Director, Directorate of Information Honorable Digital Communication, Azeez Sani.

    It further stated the 2024 SSCE Internal will commence on 19th June, 2024 and end on 26th July 2024 where the candidates will be assessed in 76 subjects.

  • Why we cannot easily migrate our exams to CBT – NECO

    Why we cannot easily migrate our exams to CBT – NECO

    Registrar of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi has said the complexity of its examinations may not allow for immediate migration from paper to Computer Based Test (CBT).

    Wushishi was speaking during an interactive session with newsmen, on key achievements of the council on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said that by virtue of being the body conducting the largest number of examinations, migrating to CBT would take gradual steps.

    “For JAMB, they are not examining candidates in so many subject areas, so they find it very easy to embrace CBT in their examinations and do multiple choice in their test.

    “As far as NECO is concerned, if you look at the nature of our exams particularly in SSCE internal, for admissions into tertiary institutions, every year we examine close to 1.5 million students, which is a large number.

    “For this 1.5 million candidates, we examine them in 76 different subjects and more than 150 different papers,” Wushishi said.

    He said that international universities such as Lead University and Birmingham City University in the U.K. wrote the council to use its results to apply for those institutions.

    According to Wushishi, this shows the credibility and acceptance of its results, to international institutions, hence it will not rush in migrating to CBT.

    “We have to do that gradually and there are some areas in our examination we could start with, like the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) which is multiple choice based, but then, we must also look at the nitty gritty of doing that,” he said.

    On stemming examination malpractices in its upcoming Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) internal, Wushishi said there was no fear of examination leakages, as it had put in place, sophisticated mechanisms to check malpractices.

    “We are getting sophisticated identity to check malpractices, as well as identify phishing sites to know, if our papers leaked.

    “We have no fears of any malpractices in the conduct of our examination coming up in June,” he said.

    Talking about the milestones of the council, Wushishi said that in its 25 years of existence, it had discharged its responsibilities in line with its mandate.

    He said that so far, the council had examined 34 million Nigerian youths, as well as conducted trial examinations for selection of best items in its examination.

    Wushishi added that on assumption of office in 2021, the council embarked on nationwide tour of its offices saying that this resulted to policies leading to the turnaround of its activities.

  • NECO digitises recruitment of examination supervisors

    NECO digitises recruitment of examination supervisors

    The National Examinations Council (NECO) has digitalised the recruitment process for examination Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors.

    The supervisors are for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal and External.

    This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday by Azeez Sani, Acting Director, Information and Digital Communication of the council.

    Sani said the digitalisation is to check sharp practices in the recruitment process and to enhance efficiency and effective service delivery.

    He said the digitalisation process involved migration from the manual recruitment of Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors to Online system.

    Sani said this would ensure that supervisors nomination form, appointment letters and supervisors e-photo Albums were generated on-line.

    He also said the routine swapping of Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors during the Examination would be done online.

    He urged interested qualified teachers with NCE, Degree Certificate, Masters Degree, PhD and Professors who are eligible to apply as Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors for BECE or SSCE Internal or External to do so.

    It could be recalled that before the digitalisation system, recruitment of Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors was done manually by the Council.

  • NECO ready for 2024 NCEE – Director

    NECO ready for 2024 NCEE – Director

    The National Examination Council (NECO) says it is ready for the 2024 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) slated for April 20, and urged parents of candidates to maintain decorum during the examination.

    Mr Azeez Sani, the acting Director, Directorate of Information and Digital Communication of NCEE, disclosed this in an interview in Lagos on Tuesday.

    Sani said that the NCEE organised by NECO for final year pupils in primary school is to create openings for admission into JSS1 in Federal Unity Colleges across the country.

    He added that “the examination is on April 20 and we are doing everything necessary to ensure a successful conduct. However, we need maximum cooperation of parents.

    “While parents bring their wards for the examination on that day, they must not overcrowd the centre but should as much as they can, exhibit extreme decorum.

    “The candidates are children who need concentration and we don’t want noise or any form of distraction during the examination. This is an appeal.”

    The NECO official explained that pupils siting for the examination are expected to be in the age bracket of 10 and 13 years by September 2024, in line with Federal Government’s directive.

    According to him, it’s been clearly stated that pupils below 10 years are not qualified.

    He said “we’re using this opportunity to tell parents to appeal to their conscience and stop rushing their children’s education because it will affect them later.”

    He expressed optimism that school authorities and management have educated the pupils on what is expected of them while attending to the questions as a guide.