Following the ban on post-UTME, Adamu Adamu, education minister, has also announced the cancellation of the second test, otherwise known as National Common Entrance screening test conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO) for admission into Federal Government Colleges.
The cancellation is with effect from the 2017/2018 academic year, the minister said in a statement.
Giving reasons for the cancellation, Adamu said the second test was an unnecessary additional financial burden on parents/guardians, describing it as unacceptable.
The minister said the era of multiple examinations attracting prohibitive fees would not 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 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.
According to Adamu, whatever inputs are needed to be made into the first examination must be done, as multiple examinations do not necessarily translate into the admission of quality pupils in our secondary schools.
Adamu in the statement said the ministry was working towards strengthening the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB) and the NECO, 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.
The minister also explained that the 2017/2018 effective date for the cancellation of the second NECO test was informed by the fact that this year’s exercise had already been concluded.
He, however, maintained that 2016/2017 academic year remained the effective date for the ban on post-UTME, advising vice chancellors to adhere strictly to the policy for overriding public interest.
