NECO releases 2016 June/July SSCE results •‘Sokoto, Zamfara, Bauchi top chart in exam malpractices’

THE  Registrar/Chief Executive of National Examinations Council (NECO), Professor Charles Uwakwe, on Friday, announced the release of June/July NECO results just as he assured that he will, in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption posture,  stamp out corruption  without compromise and set ethos that will guide the council’s operations throughout his tenure.

He stated that a  total of, 1, 027, 016 candidates registered for NECO examination from across the country and abroad while 1, 022, 474 candidates  sat for the examination adding that of the number that were examined in 76 different subjects, 905, 011 which is about 88.51percent of the entire candidates made up to 5 credits and above, including English Language  and Mathematics.

He said while Sokoto, Zamfara and Bauchi states were leading in examination malpractices, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Bayelsa and Ekiti states which also have  the least number of candidates that sat for the June/July SSCE, recorded less percentage in examination cheating.

The new NECO boss, while announcing the release of the June/July SSCE 2016  results at the council’s headquarters in Minna the Niger state capital, also explained that 43, 905 students were caught for examination related offence, 194 schools involved in mass cheating.

Prof. Uwakwe however expressed worry that most students still fall short of expectations in Mathematics and few other core science subjects, noting that for aiding and abetting examination malpractices , 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 candidates’ performance, Uwakwe said, adding that, “In 2015 we had 87.51% but in 2016 we have 88.51%, an approximately 1% increase,” he stated .

He added that  Kano state has 73, 775 the highest number of candidates that sat for the examination, followed by Oyo and Lagos states 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.

Meanwhile, the Registrar said the ethos guiding his administration which he intends to pursue without compromise includes  professionalism, service delivery, punctuality or timeliness and client satisfaction, good working attitude, integrity, commitments, zero tolerance for impunity and excellence.

Without good attitude, integrity, commitments to excel, zero tolerance for impunity, Uwakwe said NECO may not have been recognised beyond the shores of the country and commended his predecessors for maintaining internationally recognised standards that has made its certificates acceptable in other countries of the world.

Professor Uwakwe thereby solicited for the support and cooperation of all stakeholders, including journalists to see NECO as a baby that deserved the attention of all Nigerians to care for and nurture to enable it attain desired first class international status