FG Cancels NECO Second Test For Unity Schools

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu

Education Minister, Malam Adamu Adamu, yesterday announced the cancellation of the second test, otherwise known as national common entrance screening test, conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO) for admission into Federal Government Colleges.

News Agency of Nigeria report continues:

The minister had earlier invalidated post-UTME conducted by universities.

He said in a statement signed by the ministry’s Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Mr. Ben Bem Goong, that the cancellation was with effect from the 2017/2018 academic year. He said the second test was an unnecessary additional financial burden on parents and guardians, ‘describing it as unacceptable.’

“The era of multiple examinations attracting prohibitive fees cannot be accommodated by the Buhari administration, especially against the backdrop of government’s determination to increase access to education as a platform for breaking the cycle of poverty,” the statement said.

The Minister said that the 2017/2018 effective date for the cancellation of the second NECO test was informed by the fact that this year’s exercise had already been concluded.
He said the 2016/2017 academic year remained the effective date for the ban on post-UTME and advised vice chancellors to adhere strictly to the policy.

After Banning Post-UTME, Nigeria Scraps Common Entrance Interview Test Into Unity Schools

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, has announced the cancellation of the interview test for National Common Entrance Examination (NCCE) into Federal Government Colleges.

A statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education on Monday in Abuja said the cancellation of the test for NCCE would take effect from the 2017/2018 academic year.

The statement signed by the Deputy Director, Press, Bem Goong, said the minister could not establish the rationale for a second test for NCCE organized by the National Examination Council (NECO).

“The second test is an unnecessary additional financial burden on parents/guardians,” it quoted Mr. Adamu as saying.

“The era of multiple examinations attracting prohibitive fees cannot be accommodated by the Buhari administration, especially against the backdrop of government’s determination to increase access to education as a platform for breaking the cycle of poverty.’’

The statement said Mr. Adamu had directed NECO to strengthen its examination processes with a view to achieving quality and credible examination for admission into unity schools at the first test.

It said the minister argued that multiple examinations did not necessarily translate to the admission of quality pupils in secondary schools.

The statement said Mr. Adamu maintained that the 2016/2017 academic year remained the effective date for the ban on Post-UTME, advising vice-chancellors to adhere strictly to the policy in the overriding public interest.