The National Examination Council (NECO) has announced the results for the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE). Out of the 1,376,423 students who registered for the exam, 1,367,736 sat for it. The results show that 828,284 students, or 60.55%, achieved five credits, including Mathematics and English Language.

Prof. Dantana Wushishi, NECO’s Registrar, revealed these results at the Council’s Headquarters in Minna, Niger State. He also noted that 1,147,597 students, or 83.90%, earned five credits or more, regardless of their performance in English and Mathematics.

There has been a significant drop in exam malpractice, with 8,437 students caught cheating compared to 12,030 last year. Among the candidates, 2,267 had special needs, including those with hearing impairments, visual impairments, albinism, autism, and low vision.

State-wise performance showed Abia State at the top, with 83.40% of its students earning five credits, including Mathematics and English. Katsina State, however, ranked the lowest, with only 2.42% of its students meeting this criterion. Despite this, Katsina had the highest percentage of students achieving five credits regardless of the subjects.

The exam also uncovered issues of mass cheating in 40 schools and led to 21 supervisors being recommended for blacklisting due to various misconducts. Notably, one school in Ekiti State was suggested for de-recognition due to cheating in core and science subjects.

This year’s results reflect both progress and ongoing challenges in the Nigerian education system, with Abia State’s top performance and Katsina State’s struggles highlighting the disparities in educational outcomes across the country.