The National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced the blacklisting of 14 examination centres due to their involvement in various forms of malpractice during the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (External). The blacklisting of these centres took place across two states in the South-Western region of Nigeria: Ogun and Oyo States. Of the 14 blacklisted centres, 10 were located in Ogun State, while 4 were in Oyo State.
According to the NECO Registrar, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, the malpractice involved was not isolated to individual cases but spanned across nine subjects. The blacklisted centres were found to have engaged in whole-centre malpractice, which included various forms of cheating such as the use of unauthorized materials and aiding students during exams.
This year, the council made it clear that it would not tolerate any violations of the examination regulations, as such actions compromise the credibility of the examination process. In addition to the centres, seven supervisors were also blacklisted due to their involvement in or failure to prevent malpractice. These supervisors, who were stationed at different centres, were found guilty of poor supervision, lateness, and actively assisting candidates in engaging in fraudulent activities.
The implicated supervisors were from various states including Ogun, Oyo, Lagos, Cross River, and Ebonyi. The names of these centres and supervisors will be forwarded to other relevant examination bodies such as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for further sanctions.
One of the notable aspects of this year’s exam malpractice statistics is the reduction in the number of candidates involved in malpractice. The total number of candidates booked for malpractice stood at 6,169, a significant decrease from the previous year’s total of 8,518. This reduction in malpractice cases represents a 27.7% drop, a positive sign that NECO’s measures to tackle malpractice may be having some effect.
Despite this decrease, the council remains committed to continuing its vigilance and ensuring that anyone involved in malpractice is held accountable. Prof. Wushishi also took the opportunity to discuss the overall performance of the candidates in the 2024 examination.
A total of 86,067 candidates registered for the examination, out of which 84,799 sat for it. The results showed a positive performance trend, with 62,929 candidates (75.62%) obtaining credit and above in English Language, and 77,988 candidates (93.94%) achieving five credits and above in Mathematics. The number of candidates who secured five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics, was 57,114, representing 63.35% of the total candidates.
The NECO Registrar further emphasized that NECO will continue to enforce strict measures against any form of malpractice to protect the integrity of the examinations. He urged all candidates, school authorities, and examiners to adhere to the council’s guidelines to ensure a smooth and fair examination process.
