The results of the 2020 Senior School Certificate Examination for external applicants have been published by the National Examinations Council, or NECO. Prof. Godswill Obioma, the Registrar/Chief Executive of the council, announced the results yesterday at the council headquarters in Minna, Niger State. He said a total of 41,459 candidates registered for the test, with 39,503 sitting for it.

According to Professor Obioma, a total of 26,277 candidates received five credits or higher, including English Language and Mathematics, while 34,014 candidates received five credits or higher, regardless of English Language and Mathematics. Professor Obioma revealed that in the examination, 6,465 cases of examination malpractice were registered, compared to 17,004 cases in 2019.

Professor Obioma revealed that in the examination, 6,465 cases of examination malpractice were registered, compared to 17,004 cases in 2019, and that this downward trend was due to increased examination supervision by members of the Governing Board, management, and senior staff of the council.

He said: “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.

“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.

“In spite of these, we were not deterred. rather we remained resilient and resolute in the conduct of our activities”.

According to the Registrar, four supervisors who were found guilty of aiding and abetting malpractice had been blacklisted and would no longer be involved in the conduct of NECO exams, in accordance with the council’s zero tolerance policy for examination malpractice.

He also revealed that one examination centre in Ogun State had been decertified due to intimidation, several attempts to bribe NECO officials, and aiding and abetting examination malpractice.

Professor Obioma also revealed that the results of 256,000 candidates who skipped some papers during the 2020 SSCE (Internal) due to #EndSARS protests in some states, as well as those who sat for those papers during the 2020 SSCE (External), will be published alongside the results of external candidates. He went on to say how pleased he was that the test came at no additional cost to the affected candidates.

He went on to say how pleased he was that the test was given at no additional expense to the affected applicants.

According to Professor Obioma, current events in the country have compelled the council to schedule the following public exams for the year 2021: The National Common Entrance Examination, NCEE, for admission of JSS 1 students to Federal Unity Colleges will be held on Saturday, May 29, 2021; the Senior School Certificate Examination, SSCE, Internal will be held from Monday, July 5 to Monday, August 16, 2021.

Basic Education Certificate Review, BECE, will take place from Monday, August 23 to Monday, September 6, 2021.