NECO begins implementation of manpower development plan

In its bid to offer quality service as well as fulfill its core mandate of becoming a reliable examination body in the country, the National Examinations Council (NECO) has commenced immediate implementation of the manpower development plan to ensure efficiency in the council’s operations.

According to NECO, the development plan of the Ministerial Committee under the Chairmanship of Muhammed Umar, was implemented through internal postings and transfer of personnel based on their areas of specialisation.

Giving more insight on the development plan, NECO Acting Registrar, Mr Abubakar Gana, said that reforms will hasten its determination of taking its place as a reliable examination management body.

He said, “NECO was established for the purpose of nationally and internationally acceptable examinations. This development will help the exam body to ensure transparency, accountability as well as boost the integrity of its exercises”.

This is coming few months after the examination body for the first time since its establishment in 1999, released its June/July 2018 SSCE result within forty days.

The Daily Times recalls that the Acting Registrar, Gana, while announcing the result in a statement had disclosed that about 1,041,536 candidates registered, while 1,032,729 candidates sat for the examination, and 939,733 candidates representing 90.47 per cent scored five credits and above without English and Mathematics.

Gana added that 875, 464 candidates, representing 84.77 per cent scored credits in English Language, while 850,331 candidates representing 82.34 per cent, scored credits in Mathematics, adding that a total of 742,455 candidates representing 71.48 per cent scored five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

The result further showed that in 2017, 70.85 per cent of candidates had five credits and above including English and Mathematics as against 71.48 per cent in 2018, showing 0.63 per cent improved performance in the current result.

Meanwhile, in order to ease off pressure mounted on awaiting result candidates participating in the Unified Tertiary Matriculations Examination (UTME), conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the Council also realigned its procedures to ensure that results are released early to meet JAMB’s deadlines.

A similar schedule had been adopted by the West African Examination Council, WAEC, which released its 2018 results after two months of conducting the West African School Certificate Examination, WASSCE.