Concerns for 2024 NECO and WAEC Candidates Seeking Admission – NSSEC
Dr. Iyela Ajayi, the Executive Secretary of the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC), warned that up to 40% of the candidates for the 2024 National Examination Council (NECO) may not secure admission into higher institutions due to a lack of credits in mathematics and English language.Ajayi made this statement on Tuesday in Calabar during his opening speech at a five-day workshop aimed at enhancing the skills of selected English language and mathematics teachers from the South-South Geopolitical Zone.He reported that preliminary results for the 2024 NECO indicate that approximately 61% of candidates achieved five or more credits, including in mathematics and English, while nearly 40% failed to pass these essential subjects. Emphasizing the significance of quality teaching, Ajayi noted that having a robust curriculum and advanced facilities without adequately trained teachers hinders the advancement of Nigeria’s educational system.”There is no doubt that Nigeria faces challenges regarding the quality and quantity of teachers,” he stated. “This is why our commission focuses on the continuous training and retraining of educators, particularly in core subjects.”Ajayi stressed that teachers are vital to any educational system, and neglecting their training and motivation ultimately undermines educational progress. He outlined that the goal of the workshop is to enhance teachers’ pedagogical expertise, improve assessment methods, and foster collaborative networks.Cross River’s Commissioner for Education, Sen. Stephen Odey, who opened the event, highlighted the importance of the training as a significant opportunity for the state. Represented by Mr. Emmanuel Ikade, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Odey noted that many teachers have not received any formal training since their appointments due to financial constraints.He encouraged the participating teachers to take the training seriously and to share their knowledge with colleagues who could not attend. One of the workshop’s facilitators, Prof. Samuel Nneji from the Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT), echoed the necessity of the training, emphasizing that it aims to empower teachers to make a positive impact on their students. He pointed out that teachers must develop innovative skills, adapting to new teaching conditions and employing effective strategies to enhance student learning.”Some of the teaching methods we learned have become outdated and are ineffective today, so we need creative and innovative teachers to better engage our students,” Nneji concluded.
