Scrapping of NECO: Government’s decision will be informed by public’s interest assures Wike.

[FMINigeria]

                        The Minister of State for Education, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has said that although the Presidential Committee on rationalization of Government agencies headed by Mr. Steve Oransanye has recommended the scrapping of the National Examination Council (NECO), he assured that whatever decision government will take will be informed by public interest.

The Minister, stated this while speaking with journalists after monitoring the National Common Entrance examination into JSS1 class of the 104 Federal Government Colleges, held on April 13, 2013, conducted by NECO.  He said, "This is a government that opted for good governance and has a listening ear to the masses; so whatever will come out would not be to the disadvantage of anybody.  I believe it will be something good."

Wike expressed satisfaction with the peaceful and orderly conduct of the examination by NECO, as well as increased parents' interest in seeking admission for their children into the colleges.  He nevertheless advised NECO to ensure that in subsequent examinations, effort should be made to use larger halls that would accommodate more candidates for effective supervision and involvement of more security personnel to keep parents far away from examination halls to avoid interference.

While speaking further on the number of candidates seeking admission into the unity schools, the Minister noted that before now parents were running away from the schools because they are not as good as they used to be. "In this exam, over 87,000 applied, with Lagos State alone having over 27,000 candidates.  This shows that what government is doing to restore the schools has started drawing attention and bringing back parents' confidence in the schools."

He said that with the infrastructural developments going on in the schools, a large proportion of candidates who passed will get admission.  This is even as he stressed that merit must be given preference in the admission process.

A total of 87, 555 pupils entered for the common entrance nationwide.  According to Abdul Mustapha, NECO Liaison Officer, Abuja, Lagos State has the highest entrants while Yobe State has the least entrants of 87.  Abuja has 16,962 entrants. He said the examination is being held in 422 centers nationwide, and Abuja has 29 centers.

He hinted that cases of impersonation would hardly occur as candidates were identified by picture in the e-album and not just by name, before being admitted into the exam hall.  Also, he said the result will be ready for submission to the Federal Ministry of Education within three days after the examination; it is the Ministry that has the authority to release the result to the public.

Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria