Ninety-three schools across the country have been caught in mass cheating in the 2023 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO).

Already, 52 supervisors have been recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting during the examination.

NECO Registrar, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, who announced the release of the result in Minna, Niger State, on Tuesday, October 10 however stated that the 2023 SSCE was the best in recent years.

Wushishi said that the number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2023 is 12,030, representing 0.07 per cent as against 13,594, 0.13 per cent in 2022.

According to him, “In line with our resolve to identify and sanction erring Schools and Supervisors, 93 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (Mass) cheating.  They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.

“Similarly, 52 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting during the examination.”

Wushishi, who gave a breakdown of candidates’ performance, said 737,308 candidates, representing 61.60 per cent of the total number of applicants scored five credits and above including Mathematics and English Language.

He disclosed that a total of 1,196,985, comprising 616,398 males and 580,587 females sat for the exam out of which 1,013,611 candidates scored five credits and above, irrespective of English Language and Mathematics, representing 84.68 per cent.

NECO releases 2023 SSCE results, 61.6% score 5 credits

How to check 2023 NECO results

The 2023 SSCE internal examination was conducted from Monday, July 10 to Friday, August 11, while marking exercise commenced from August 30 to September 15.

He said the release of the 2023 SSCE came promptly due to the management’s desire to ensure that complete results are available.

On candidates with special needs, he said a total of 1,542 candidates sat for the examination, out of which 913 candidates have hearing impairment and 162 candidates have visual impairment.

According to him, other candidates include; 103 candidates with albinism, 61 candidates with autism, 149 candidates with low vision, 154 candidates with adermatoglyphia, among others.

“It gladdens my heart to notify you that reports we have received so far indicate that the 2023 SSCE internal has been certified the best in recent times. We are very thankful to God for this and to all those that made it possible.

“Number of candidates registered for the examination is 1,205,888, representing 621,084 males and 584,804 Females.

“Number of candidates that sat is 1,196,985, representing 616,398 Males and 580,587 females. Number of candidates with five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics is 737,308, representing 61.60 per cent,” he said.

He further said that Abia has the highest number of candidates with five credits and above, including Mathematics and English Language with 85.53 per cent, adding that Adamawa came second with 51.5 per cent, while Kebbi came last with a performance of 0.310 per cent.

The Star