The National Examination Council (NECO) is probing mass cheating in 40 secondary schools. At a press conference in Minna, Niger State, NECO Registrar Prof. Dantani Wushishi announced the council’s decision to invite and interrogate the management of these schools across 17 states for alleged malpractice during this year’s Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE). This comes as part of their commitment to uphold examination integrity.

Wushishi revealed that 8,437 candidates were implicated in various forms of cheating, a notable decrease of 30.1% from the previous year’s figure of 12,030. He emphasized that all involved schools would be called for discussions, and appropriate sanctions would follow. Additionally, one school in Ekiti State has been recommended for de-registration due to mass cheating in core subjects.

In addressing supervision issues, Wushishi mentioned that 21 supervisors would be blacklisted for negligence and misconduct during the examination. He detailed that the council is serious about ensuring a fair examination process and maintaining the credibility of the SSCE.

Despite the challenges, Wushishi reported encouraging results, with over 60% of candidates passing English Language and Mathematics. Out of 1,376,423 registered candidates, 828,824 achieved five credits and above, indicating a promising academic performance among students. The council remains focused on addressing malpractice while celebrating the successes of diligent candidates.