The National Examinations Council (NECO) has officially released the results of the November/December 2022 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE). The announcement was made on Thursday in Minna, Niger State, by NECO Registrar, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, who provided a detailed breakdown of the performance, gender distribution, and malpractice statistics.
According to Prof. Wushishi, a total of 59,124 candidates participated in the external examination, with 31,316 males making up 52.96% and 27,808 females, accounting for 47.03%.
Over 33,000 Candidates Earn Five Credits Including Core Subjects
Wushishi revealed that 33,914 candidates, representing 57.36%, obtained five credits and above including English Language and Mathematics. In total, 46,825 candidates—approximately 79.20%—secured five credits and above regardless of the English and Mathematics subjects.
This performance reflects a fair improvement in core subject proficiency, a major requirement for admission into tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
Subject Performance: English and Mathematics See Strong Results
The Registrar noted that 58,012 candidates sat for English Language, and of this number, 44,162 earned credit and above, translating to 76.13% success rate.
Similarly, for Mathematics, 57,700 candidates took the paper, with 43,096 obtaining credit and above, representing a 74.69% pass rate.
These figures indicate that a significant number of candidates demonstrated competence in the two essential subjects, boosting their eligibility for further academic pursuits.
Alarming Spike in Examination Malpractice
Despite the commendable academic outcomes, Wushishi raised concern over a substantial surge in examination malpractice. A total of 11,419 candidates were involved in various forms of misconduct—more than double the 4,454 cases recorded in 2021.
The Registrar attributed the increase to the enhanced effectiveness of NECO’s monitoring mechanisms, which have become more sophisticated in detecting and reporting infractions.
Supervisors Sanctioned for Complicity
As a result of improved monitoring and stricter oversight, NECO blacklisted four supervisors found guilty of malpractice-related offenses. These include:
-
One supervisor each from Rivers State and Plateau State
-
Two supervisors from Ogun State
Wushishi explained that the sanctions were based on charges of aiding and abetting malpractice, as well as poor supervision, both of which undermined the integrity of the examination process.
Timely Release and Examination Timeline
The 2022 NECO SSCE External Exam was conducted from November 21 to December 21, 2022. True to NECO’s timeline commitment, the results were released 57 days after the conclusion of the exams.
Conclusion: A Mixed Bag of Progress and Concerns
The release of the 2022 November/December SSCE results offers a mixed narrative of academic improvement and systemic challenges. While over 57% of candidates met the credit benchmark in five subjects including English and Maths, the sharp rise in exam malpractice highlights the need for continued reforms in exam supervision and candidate sensitization.
NECO remains committed to upholding the integrity of public examinations in Nigeria and promises to build on the successes and lessons of the 2022 edition as it prepares for future examinations.
