Why NECO suspends 2020 examinations indefinitely ─Top Official

*Imposition of curfews has prevented free movement of materials meant for the public examinations in Nigeria, says Azeez Sani, Head of Information and Public Relations

Alexander Moses | ConsumerConnect

In view of the unexpected turn of events, particularly regarding the closure of schools and curfews imposed on several of parts of Nigeria, following the continued nationwide #EndSARS protests, the National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced the suspension its ongoing internal Senior Secondary Schools Certificate Examinations (SSCE) indefinitely.

ConsumerConnect reports the public examination body in a statement Sunday, October 25 by Azeez Sani, NECO Head of Information and Public Relations Division, disclosed that the decision its Governing Board reached took the action in connection with the current turn of events in the country.

The Council particularly attributed the action to the closure of schools and the curfew imposed by some state governors to safeguard lives following developments around the country.

It stated that imposition of the curfew has prevented free movement of materials meant for the examinations.

According to the statement, “the Governing Board of the National Examinations Council (NECO) at its Special Meeting held on Thursday, 22nd October, 2020, reviewed the on-going 2020 SSCE (Internal) nationwide.

“The Council had in a press release, dated 21st October 2020, informed the general public of rescheduling some papers of the 2020 on-going SSCE.

“Arising from that meeting, the Governing Board resolved that the 2020 SSCE (Internal) be postponed indefinitely in view of the current security challenges, occasioned by the EndSARS protests, which disrupted the smooth conduct of the examinations in some parts of the country.”

It further said: “In making this decision, the Board noted that due to these security challenges: Some state governments imposed a curfew and closed schools in order to safeguard lives and property.

“In the circumstances, it has become difficult for the Council to move examination materials across the country; students in the affected locations were unable to sit for the papers already scheduled in the examination time table.”

The body noted that “the Governing Board further resolved, that when normalcy returns, the Council will continue with the conduct of the examinations in all states.

“While regretting any inconveniences this postponement may cause our esteemed stakeholders, the Council has however taken this decision in order to maintain the integrity and security of its examination procedures for seamless conduct of the Council’s examination.”