The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the 2020 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results for External Candidates, six months after conclusion of the exercise.
The examination body explained that a total of 41,459 candidates registered for the examination, out of which 39,503 actually sat for the examination.
Also, the examination body disclosed that 6,465 cases of examination malpractice were recorded in the 2020 SSCE External as against 17,004 cases in 2019.
It explained that the reduction in the level of malpractice was as a result of deepened monitoring of the examination by members of the governing board, management, and senior staff of the council.
NECO’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Godswill Obioma who reiterated the council’s zero tolerance for examination malpractice, said appropriate standards and excellence were maintained right from the planning stage to the release of results.
Giving a breakdown of the results on Thursday, through a statement disclosed by Head, Information and Public Relations Division, Azeez Sani, the registrar said that statistics of candidates’ performance showed that out of 39,503 candidates that sat the examination:
“A total of Twenty Six Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy-Seven (26,277) candidates obtained five credits and above including English Language and Mathematics while Thirty Four Thousand and Fourteen (34,014) candidates also obtained five credits and above irrespective of English Language and Mathematics.”
The Registrar explained that in line with the Council’s zero tolerance for examination malpractice, four supervisors who were found culpable of aiding and abetting malpractice have been blacklisted and would no longer be engaged in the conduct of NECO examinations.
Obioma further disclosed that the results of 256,000 candidates who missed some papers during the 2020 SSCE (Internal) due to the ENDSARS Protests in some states and who sat for those papers during the 2020 SSCE (External) are being released alongside those of external candidates.
“A further analysis of candidates performance indicates that a total number of 29,918 obtained credit and above in English Language while a total number of 34,061 candidates obtained credit and above in Mathematics.”
“One examination centre in Ogun State has been derecognized for intimidation and several attempts to induce NECO officials as well as aiding and abetting examination malpractice.
“It is gratifying to note that the examination was at no extra cost to the affected candidates”.
Obioma stated that the year 2020 ushered in very daunting challenges essentially occasioned by COVID-19 Pandemic and ENDSARS Protests in the pursuit of the Council mandates.
The Registrar said that “this necessitated the rescheduling of the various examinations organised by NECO, for instance, 2020 SSCE (External) which ought to have been concluded in November/December 2020 was conducted in February/March 2021”.
According to him, “in spite of these, we were not deterred rather we remained resilient and resolute in the conduct of our activities”. The Registrar reiterated the Council’s commitment to conducting credible examinations to improve the quality of education in the country.
Obioma explained that in view of the above, and based on approval of the Federal Ministry of Education, NECO has scheduled her public examinations for the year 2021 as follows:
“National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) for admission of JSS 1 students into Federal Unity Colleges is scheduled for Saturday 29th May 2021.
“Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal is scheduled from Monday 5th July to Monday 16th August 2021.
“Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) is scheduled for Monday 23rd August to Monday 6th September 2021 in order to enable students at that level to cover enough subject matter for the examination,” he said.
The Registrar expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR for finding him worthy to be appointed to serve in this capacity and contribute his quota to the development of education in the country.
He further enjoined candidates to access their results on NECO website www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration numbers.
