The federal government has, again, announced the cancellation of the second test conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO) for admission into federal government colleges.
The cancellation is said to be with effect from the 2017/2018 academic year.
Giving reasons for the cancellation, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu stated that the second test is an unnecessary additional financial burden on parents/guardians, describing it as unacceptable.
According to the statement signed by the deputy director, Press, of the Federal Ministry of Education, Bem Goong, this is following the ban on Post-UTME.
According to the minister, 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.
He therefore directed the National Examinations Council (NECO) to strengthen its examination processes with a view to achieving a quality and credible National Common Entrance Examination for admission into unity schools at the first test.
Adamu said whatever inputs that are needed to be made into the first examination must be done, adding that multiple examinations do not necessarily translate into the admission of quality pupils in the nation’s secondary schools.
Adamu said his administration is working towards strengthening the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) which have been established by Acts of the National Assembly and charged with the responsibility of conducting admission into Federal Public secondary and tertiary schools respectively to deliver efficiently on their mandates.
He also explained that the 2017/2018 effective date for the cancellation of the second NECO test is informed by the fact that this year’s exercise had already been concluded.
The minister, however, maintained that 2016/2017 academic year remains the effective date for the ban on Post-UTME, advising Vice Chancellors to adhere strictly to the policy for overriding public interest.
