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Tag: NECO

  • 2017 UTME: JAMB, NECO, WAEC, NABTEB harmonise examination time-table

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Tuesday said it has agreed on a harmonised time-table with other examination bodies ahead of 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    The decision, the board said, would lead to a hitch free examination.

    The board at a brainstorming meeting with the National Examination Council (NECO), West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Business and Technical Examination (NABTEB) held at JAMB’s headquarters in Abuja unanimously agreed to harmonise the examination timetable because of the candidates’ desire for qualitative tertiary education.

    The Spokesperson of JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, in a statement late on Tuesday night in Abuja, said the harmonised examination timetable had put to rest problems arising from overlapping of examination dates which would have disenfranchised a sizeable number of candidates from writing the examination.

    “At the end of the brainstorming session, the bodies resolved that WAEC would speak to all its authorities that from 2018, between March and April, for a window of two weeks be created where all other examinations that have nothing to do with Nigeria will be held so as to allow a window for JAMB to conduct its examination,” the statement said.

    According to the statement, the examination bodies agreed that for the purpose of the 2017 UTME, JAMB would shift its examinations to allow students face WAEC, NECO and NABTEB.

    “However, a 10-day window for JAMB’S UTME has been created by all examination bodies for JAMB to conduct its examination. In view of this, JAMB will soon announce the commencement of sale of the 2017/2018 admission forms for UTME and Direct Entry (DE).

    “JAMB emphasises the fact that whoever is presently collecting any money in the name of JAMB form should be reported to the police or any other security agency as fraudster,” the statement added.

     

  • Kano to spend N398.9m on 27,268 WAEC, NECO candidates

    Kano State government has approved N398, 919,800 for 27,268 candidates for West African Examinations Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO) and SIS examinations.

    The beneficiaries must pass the state qualifying exam.

    Commissioner of Information, Youth and Culture, Mallam Muhammad Garba; made  this known at a briefing on the outcome of the 72rd and first state executive council (SEC) meeting held at Kano Government House earlier this month.

    Garba added that only students with five credits, including English and Mathematics, would benefit from the gesture, adding that the state’s 44 local governments have been directed to shoulder responsibility of such qualified candidates in their domains.

    He said this decision was taken based on the three options presented to the council by the ministry of education.

    Garba said of the amount, N774, 550, 000 million was reserved for drilling 789 hand pump boreholes and rehabilitation of 163 across the state.

    He added that the government decided to do this to cushion the water scarcity facing some communities, reiterating that the state water treatment plants were being upgraded to cover all the nooks and crannies of the state.

     

  • Ex-Ebonyi commissioner decries high WASSCE, NECO fees

    Ex-Ebonyi State Education Commissioner Mr. Ndubuisi Chibueze-Agbo has condemned increase in West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and National Examination Council (NECO) fees.

    He told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abakaliki the hike posed danger to the education sector.

    Chibueze-Agbo said the sudden increase in NECO and WASSCE fees from N5,500 and N5,350 in 2015 to N11,950 and N11,350 was outrageous.

    He said it could debar children from poor homes from sitting for the examinations.

    The former commissioner noted NECO was established in 2000 to break WAEC’s monopoly.

    “Before 2000, WAEC was the only examination body authorised by law to conduct Senior School Certificate Examination for internal and external candidates.

    “NECO was established in 2000 to provide alternative for Nigerians, break WAEC’s monopoly and prevent it from charging exorbitant fees.

    “But it’s regrettable that NECO has been championing hike in fees from 2001 to date,” he said.

    Chibueze-Agbo said in 2000, registration fee for WASSCE and NECO was N1,000, while candidates who sat for the examinations in 2001 paid N1,450 for WASSCE and N1,500 for NECO.

    He said fees for both examinations went up in 2002 to N1,800 for NECO and WASSCE N1,650.

    The ex-commissioner said there was another increment in 2003 that put NECO fee at N2,300, while WASSCE was registered for with N2,250.

    He said increment in the examination fees had been frequent in Nigeria, adding that the present fees were the highest in Africa.

    His words: “According to statistics, 80 per cent of prospective WASSCE and NECO candidates in Ebonyi State are yet to pay because of the high fees.

    “The situation poses threat to national security and development. It calls for an urgent action.”

    Chibueze-Agbo urged President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene.

  • Gwagwalada shines at NECO awards

    Gwagwalada shines at NECO awards

    Before last week, Mr Yakubu Mudi and his wife, Mary, had never been to an airport much less entered a plane.

    But thanks to his son, Egbunu, Yakubu, a security officer at the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), and his wife made the trip from their humble abode in Gwagwadala on the fringes of Abuja, to Lagos for the 2016 Learn Africa NECO Excellence Awards organised by Learn Africa Education Development Foundation.

    Egbunu, a pupil of the School for the Gifted, Gwagwalada, made the overall best candidate in the June/July 2016 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO).

    “I have never been to the airport before not to mention of entering a plane,” Yakubu said with a grin. “Today, we entered a plane to Lagos, which is also our first time of being here. This is just to confirm that a good child can bring back opportunity that his parents once lost in a lifetime.”

    The Mudis mounted the podium to join their son who shone like a million stars as he received a plaque and N100.000 cheque at the event held at the Renaissance Hotel, GRA, Ikeja.

    Interestingly, Gwagwadala also produced both first and second runners up for the award – Sulaiman Ibrahim, also from the School for the Gifted, and Osemeke Ogorchukwu Mary of Louisville Senior Girls Secondary School, Gwagwalada.

    Egbunu’s teacher, Mr Sandy Udeme Okpongette, emerged the overall best teacher nationwide.

    In the subject category, Iremiren Isiah of Rainbow College, Maba, Ogun State, won the New Concept prize for best grade in English Language; Akpeti Loyalty of Delta Careers College, Effurun Delta State, clinched the New Concept prize for best grade in Mathematics.

    Similarly, Enenmoh Ikechukwu of Marist Comprehensive College, Nteje , Anambra State, won Dr Ameyo Stella Adadevoh Prize for the Best Grade in Biology, while John Felix Temitope of Knoxfield Comprehensive College, Ijoko-Ota (Ogun State), won the J. F. Ade-Ajayi Prize for the Best Grade in History. All awardees, including, Okpongette got N100,000 and a plaque each.

    Chairman of the Foundation, Mr Emeka Iwerebon, said the award was instituted in 2012 as part of the Corporate Social Responsible initatives of LearnAfrica Plc.  Its aim is to inspire “the intrinsic flame of excellence in Nigerian students, motivate them to work harder and encourage a culture of healthy rivalry among them.”

    He said the award which wraps up this year following a five year plan, would have rewarded a total of 550 exceptional students, 500 outstanding schools, and 185 teachers with prizes such as cash, computers, plaques and certificates, among others.

    Iwerebon also congratulated state winners who received their prizes at the 13 zonal award centres between November 13 and 24.

    He noted that the firm’s publications particularly in core subjects of Mathematics English Language and others have impacted nationally and must have rubbed off on many of the winners.

    Though the foundation would be taking a break from the award, Iwerebon said its programmes would still revolve around students, teachers and schools.

    Representative of NECO Dr Ikechukwu Anyawu praised Learn Africa for the five-year partnership.

    He said researches conducted by NECO showed that children from homes with libraries, and committed parents, teachers and schools, stand a better chance of winning the award.

    He said he was happy that unlike last year, which was dominated by females, males won the awards across all categories this year.

    Anyawu told the audience that the selection process was unbiased.

    “We try as much as possible to guard against compromise by not being physically involved, but allowing our database to throw up outstanding students.  In other words, the award is not decided by grade but by mark. What we mean is that another candidate, like Egbunu, can also have As in all subjects. But Egbunu must have had the highest marks in the subjects among all candidates to be adjudged the overall winner,” he said.

     

  • LearnAfrica rolls out NECO award

    LearnAfrica Education Development Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of LearnAfrica PLC (formerly known as Longman Nigeria Plc), has announced its planned LearnAfrica-NECO Excellence awards for this year.

    As is its tradition, the organisation seeks to “recognise and honour distinguished NECO candidates, schools and teachers in all states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory,” in this year’s NECO-Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE)

    In a statement made available to The Nation, LearnAfrica praised NECO on improved performance and timely release of results.

    It said: “We wish to commend the National Examinations Council (NECO) for the successful conduct of the June/July 2016 Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE) and the timely release of the results. We also wish to congratulate the candidates that sat for the examinations on the improvement in the general performance and results when compared with those of 2015.

    “It is most gratifying to note that 88.51 per cent of candidates got credit passes in at least five subjects, including Mathematics and English Language. Besides, 84.54 per cent of candidates got credit pass and above in English Language while 80.16 per cent got credit pass and  above in Mathematics.

    “As you might be aware, Learn Africa Plc, established the Learn Africa Education Development Foundation in 2012 to support the growth and development of the education sector through provision of education infrastructure and engagement in philanthropic activities that promote learning. Consequently, it instituted the annual LearnAfrica-NECO Excellence Awards for students, teachers and schools at the senior secondary level. The objective was and remains to underscore the importance of excellence in education to our national development as well as encourage hard work, and healthy competition amongst students, teachers and schools.”

    The award recognises top-three candidates at the 2016 June/July edition of NECO nationwide. It also rewards the overall best candidates in Mathematics, English Language, Biology and History.  In addition, one teacher from the school that produced the first-placed candidate is rewarded, while all the schools that produced winners receive free books from the Foundation.

    “We make bold to say that the successes recorded at the Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations are not without the contributions of our New Concept Mathematics and New Concept English, our ever relevant textbooks on Mathematics and English Language at the secondary level,”the firm said.

    The body lauded NECO for intensifying campaign against examination fraud, as well as punishing abettors. It called on authorities to up funding for the education sector in view of its continuous crusade and victory in winning the war on examination malpractice.

  • Youths laud Fayemi on Ekiti NECO results

    Youths laud Fayemi on Ekiti NECO results

    A youth group, Progressive Youth League (PYL), has praised the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, for the excellent performance of Ekiti students in the Senior Secondary School Examination results released by the National Examination Council (NECO).

    According to NECO Senior Secondary School examination released a fortnight ago, Ekiti dwarfed other states with 96.48 per cent. It was followed by Edo State with 96.31 per cent.

    The group noted that the excellent performance by the students, who were in junior secondary school, when Fayemi introduced the various education policies of his administration, has proved that sound policy in education and a conducive atmosphere for learning were sine qua non for good performance.

    The PYL, in a statement by its Southwest Coordinator, Adeoye Aribasoye, said the performance of the students vindicated Fayemi as a visionary leader whose education policies provided incentives for teachers, students and parents, and laid a solid foundation for great performances in internal and external examinations.

    Aribasoye, a lawyer, lauded Fayemi’s policy of free and compulsory education between 2010 and 2014. He said the top ranking by NECO has also proved skeptics of free education wrong. “It is reassuring to note that the brilliant results were achieved by pioneering students of the free and compulsory education policy of the immediate past administration.”

    The group, which called on the present administration to revert to some Fayemi’s policies, stated that the success recorded by the students stemmed from careful planning and incentives that had unprecedented impact on learning culture in the state.

    It listed some of the incentives instituted by Fayemi to include distribution of solar-powered laptop computer to every secondary school pupil under the ‘one laptop per child initiative’; payment of rural allowances for teachers in the rural areas; core subject allowances to teachers who teach core sciences, Mathematics and English Language, and renovation of all primary and secondary school buildings under ‘Operation Renovate All Schools (ORASE).

    “It is on record that the computer per child programme of the Fayemi administration, which provided computers for both teachers and students, was launched six months ahead of the introduction of computer-based examination by the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB).”

    Aribasoye recalled that Fayemi’s administration organised computer training and mathematics clinics for teachers, put together remedial programmes for pupils across the state local government areas, and distributed about 400 motorcycles to teachers serving in the rural areas of the state. Fayemi’s administration also  ensured that teachers benefited from the relativity pay for all categories of workers in the public service in addition to 27.5 per cent Teachers Pecuniary Allowance.

    The youth leader said PYL opposes the planned introduction of fees in public schools by Governor Ayo Fayose. The group said it  has finalised arrangements to begin a campaign to make education in primary and secondary schools free in Ekiti State.

  • APC: Fayemi’s education policy responsible for Ekiti students’ NECO feat

    APC: Fayemi’s education policy responsible for Ekiti students’ NECO feat

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has attributed the impressive performance of the state’s candidates in the National Examinations Council (NECO) to the education policy of the administration of former Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    The party said the foundation of the NECO feat was laid by what it called “sound education policy by Fayemi, which provided incentives for good learning environment and provision of educational items that enhanced learning among the students.”

    It said the explanation became imperative, as Fayose was wont to claiming unmerited credits for Fayemi’s achievements, citing 2014 budget by Fayemi that was adjudged the most effective and transparent in Nigeria by an organisation, but which Fayose celebrated as his achievement.

    NECO on Friday released the results of the Senior School Certificate Examination it conducted in and outside the country between June and July this year, with Ekiti State having the best performance with 96.48 percent followed by Edo State which came second with 96.31 percent.

    Reacting to the state’s performance, APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said in a statement yesterday that the feat was attributable to education policy instituted by Fayemi that put life into educational administration and management in the state.

    He explained that Fayemi called an education summit to develop a roadmap for quality education, which the former governor implemented to the letter, saying the foundation laid by the administration created environment for learning as never before, resulting in the latest incredible performance by the students.

    He also noted that the current success did not happen overnight but the result of long planning by Fayemi between 2011 and 2014.

    Listing the incentives instituted by the former governor that had brought about the latest performance, Olatunbosun explained:

    “Fayemi gave a laptop per child that exposed them to study online and eradicated miracle centres while providing incentive to teachers, including renovation of schools to enhance good learning environment, and also approved special allowances for core subjects and rural postings for teachers.

    “Fayemi’s giant strides in education made Ekiti one of the three states in the federation that benefitted from  the World Bank’s $50m State Education Programme Investment Project (SEPIP).

    “He renovated 183 secondary schools and 836 primary schools and provided other incentives, including establishment of remedial colleges to cater for out-of-school students in the 16 local governments, which made the state to record 52% credit pass in English and Maths in 2013 while the state also won many firsts in various quiz competitions in the same year, topping it with a student from Ikere High School who won the best male student in WAEC.”

    Olatunbosun regretted that while Fayemi introduced and sustained compulsory free education  at primary  and secondary education levels, Fayose had cancelled the policy, making pupils to pay taxes per term while teachers remained unpaid for seven months. This also led to teachers’ strike that kept the students out of school for months, this could not have resulted in this successful outing.

    “Fayemi administration of four years when the successful students were in Junior secondary school, impacted well on them such that they had a solid educational background which translated into the latest success.

    “Between 2011 and 2014, Fayemi was consistently rewarding best hardworking teacher with a brand new car and paid WAEC fees of students ranging from N86m to N140m, which Fayose has also stopped .

    “Fayemi’s administration was continuously organising training programmes  for the teachers, while 400 motorcycles were distributed to teachers serving in rural areas, even as he distributed 20,000 sets of lockers and chairs to public schools across the state.

    “He delivered books worth N6m to the State Library Board to encourage reading culture among teachers and students and promoted no fewer than 4,000 primary school teachers between 2010 and 2014, including Head Teachers and Deputy Head Teachers, some of whom were demoted by Fayose upon assumption of office.”

    The APC spokesman added that teachers benefited from the relativity pay for all categories of workers in the public service and also benefited from the 27.5% Teachers Pecuniary Allowance, while Ekiti was the first in the South West to implement the relativity pay, bringing the minimum wage from N7,500 to N19,300 without owing teacher’s salaries.

    Noting that Fayemi also organised continuous capacity building programmes for teachers and established intensive state-wide coaching programme for SSCE/NECO and JAMB candidates , he regretted that all the schemes had been cancelled by Fayose who was also owing teachers six month’s salary arrears.

  • NECO releases June/July results

    NECO releases June/July results

    The National Examination Council (NECO) yesterday released the results of 2016 June/July Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) with 88.51 per cent of the students obtaining five credit pass and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

    Announcing the release of the result yesterday at NECO Headquarters, Minna, the Registrar, Prof. Charles Uwakwe, said there was 20 per cent improvement in the general performance of candidates in 2016 compared to 2015.

    According to him, 905,011 or 88.51 per cent of the 1,022,474 students that sat the examination in Nigeria and other countries got five credits and above while 84.54 per cent got credit pass and above in English Language and 80.16 per cent obtained credit pass and above in Mathematics.

    Uwakwe said that 194 schools were involved in mass cheating while 14 schools had been derecognised by the examination body for examination malpractices.

    He lamented the rate at which schools were involved in malpractices and cheating, stressing that any school caught will be derecognised.

    The Registrar attributed the improved performance of students in the examination to the staff of NECO, contributions from his predecessors who have laid a good foundation and the seriousness of the students.

    He maintained that NECO will not reduce its standard, especially as it intends to make its mark in the global assessment industry.

    He said: “I want to solicit support from all our stakeholders. NECO should be seen as a Nigerian baby that requires the care and support of all to enable her attain that first class international status.

    “We are working hard to ensure that NECO makes her mark in the global assessment industry.”

    Ekiti state came tops as the state with the best performance, followed by Edo and Kogi states while Yobe and Kastina were at the bottom.

    Uwakwe said students can access their results on NECO website.

  • NECO releases June/July WASSCE results

    NECO releases June/July WASSCE results

    The National Examination Council (NECO) on Friday released the 2016 June/July Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results with 88.51 per cent of the candidates obtaining five credits pass and above in English Language and Mathematics.

    Announcing the release of the results at the body’s headquarter in Minna, the NECO Registrar, Prof. Charles Uwakwe, said there is a one per cent increase in the general performance of candidates this year compared with 2015.

    He said 905,011 or 88.51 per cent out of the 1,022,474 candidates that sat for the examination in Nigeria and other countries got five credits and above, while 84.54 per cent got credit pass and above in English Language and 80.16 per cent obtained credit pass and above in Mathematics.

    Uwakwe said 194 schools were involved in mass cheating, while 14 schools have been derecognized by the body for examination malpractice.

    He lamented the rate at which schools are involved in examination malpractice, stressing that any school caught will be derecognized.

    The Registrar attributed the increased candidates’ performance in the examination to the staff of NECO, contributions from his predecessors who have laid a good foundation and the seriousness of the candidates.

    He maintained that NECO would not reduce its standard especially as it intends to make its mark in the global assessment industry.

    He said, “I want to solicit for support from all our stakeholders. NECO should be seen as a Nigerian baby that requires the care and support of all to enable her attain that first class international status. We are working hard to ensure NECO makes her mark in the global assessment industry.”

    Uwakwe said students can assess their results on NECO website.

     

     

  • Group backs NECO boss

    Group backs NECO boss

    The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET), has praised the appointment of Prof. Charles Uwakwe as the Executive Secretary, National Examination Council (NECO) by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Executive Secretary, Comrade Ikpa Isaac, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said that his appointment was well deserved.

    Isaac said: “We at the Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency wish to laud the Hon Minister of Education for in the first place finding a man with the necessary qualities to pilot the affairs of our nation’s only senior certification agency at this point in time.”

    According to Isaac, Mr. Uwakwe, irrespective of his ethnicity, meets the requirements for him to have been appointed by Buhari.

    He condemned recent protests over his appointment on the ground of ethnicity.

    He said the practice must therefore remain scouting for the best brain the country can find to hold such a sensitive position.

    “The demand of the protesters is dangerous coming at a time when there is outcry in some quarters that the appointments under the current government tilted in favour of the north; acceding to the protesters’ demand would therefore only worsen the sense of discrimination that is already growing in some geo-political zones and cannot be in the interest of Nigeria.

    “If the head of every government agency has to be appointed on the basis of geo-location, then the north would be left massively disadvantaged as many of the government establishments headed by northerners are not located in their geographical areas,” he added.