The National Examination Council (NECO) has officially unveiled the results of the June/July 2023 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), revealing that 61.60% of students achieved five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.
Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NECO, made this announcement during a press briefing held at the NECO headquarters in Minna, Niger State.
According to Prof. Wushishi, a total of 1,205,888 students registered for the examination, out of which 1,196,985 students actually sat for the exams. This figure includes 616,398 male candidates and 580,587 female candidates, highlighting the balanced participation of both genders in the examination.
However, in a concerning development, it was disclosed that 93 schools were found to be engaged in whole-school (mass) cheating during the examination. Additionally, 52 supervisors have been recommended for blacklisting due to their involvement in poor supervision and aiding and abetting cheating incidents.
Prof. Wushishi stated that the erring schools would be invited to the Council for discussions, following which appropriate sanctions would be applied.
In a remarkable inclusion, the NECO CEO highlighted the number of candidates with Special Needs who participated in the examination
Wushishi noted: “Number of candidates with Special Needs is 1,542 which includes 913 candidates with hearing impairment, 162 candidates with visual impairment, 103 candidates with Albanism, 61 candidates with Autism, 149 candidates with low vision, and 154 candidates with Adermatoglyphia which are candidates with no fingerprints.
“737,308 representing 61.60 percent Candidates passed with five Credits and above, 1,013,611 representing 84.68 percent candidates had five Credits irrespective of English and Mathematics.”
Comparing the 2023 SSCE results to the 2022 results, a slight decrease of 0.86% was observed in the number of candidates who scored five credits and above in both English and Mathematics. In 2022, the figure stood at 60.74%, reflecting a marginal drop in the academic performance of candidates.
It is worth noting that in 2021, 71.64% of candidates obtained five credits in the two major subjects, indicating a gradual decrease in this specific academic achievement over the past few years.
The release of the NECO June/July 2023 SSCE results marks a significant moment for students, parents, and educational stakeholders across Nigeria, with the Council’s efforts to uphold academic integrity and inclusivity clearly in the spotlight.
