The new Registrar/Chief Executive of National Examinations Council (NECO), Professor Charles Uwakwe, has promised to set standards that would guide the council’s operations during his tenure.
Uwakwe spoke during his first official outing in Minna.
He disclosed that a total of 1, 027, 016 registered for NECO examination in Nigeria and overseas, stressing that 1, 022, 474 sat for the examination.
He explained that of the number that was examined in 76 different subjects, 905, 011 which is about 88.51% of the entire candidates made up to five credits and above, including English and Mathematics.
“While Sokoto, Zamfara and Bauchi states are leading in examination malpractices, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Bayelsa and Ekiti states which also had the least number of candidates that sat for the June/July SSCE recorded less percentage in examination cheating, he said.
Uwakwe also explained that 43, 905 students were caught for examination-related offence, as 194 schools were involved in mass cheating.
Uwakwe however expressed worry that most students still fall short of expectations in Mathematics and few other core science subjects, adding that for aiding and abating examination cheats, NECO has de-recognised 14 schools from across the 36 states and the FCT, Abuja.
Comparative analysis of performances in the last examination also shows generally better performances in all subjects this year compared to that of last year with slight increase in candidate’s performance, Uwakwe said, adding that, “In 2015 we had 87.51% but in 2016 we have 88.51%, an approximately 1% increase”.
Kano State has 73, 775, the highest number of candidates that sat for the examination, followed by Oyo and Lagos state with 56, 472 and 53, 843, respectively, while Bayelsa State is the least with just 5, 156, Ekiti, 9, 368, Ebonyi 10, 689 and only 19 candidates participated from overseas countries, he said.
