The National Examinations Council, NECO, has released the results of 39,503 candidates that wrote the 2020 Senior School Certificate Examination, SSCE, for External Candidates in the nation.
It also stated that four supervisors have been blacklisted and would no longer participate in the conduct of NECO examinations for abetting malpractice.
Announcing the results at the Council Headquarters in Minna, the Registrar/Chief Executive, Prof. Godswill Obioma said initially, a total of 41,459 candidates registered for the examination, but 39,503 actually sat for it.
Obioma explained that a total of 26,277 candidates obtained five credits and above including English Language and Mathematics.
He also said 34,014 candidates also scored five credits and above irrespective of English Language and Mathematics.
Reiterating the Council’s zero tolerance for examination malpractice, the Registrar stated, ” appropriate standards and excellence were maintained from right the planning stage to the release of results.”
Obioma further revealed that 6,465 cases of examination malpractice were recorded in the 2020 SSCE External as against 17,004 cases in 2019.
“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.”
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.
“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. ”
Obioma further revealed 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 today.
“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”
“The year 2020 ushered in very daunting challenges essentially occasioned by COVID-19 Pandemic and ENDSARS Protests in the pursuit of the Council mandates”
“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.”