By Chris Awhawha
The National Examinations Council (NECO) continues its international expansion by accrediting additional schools in Niger Republic to administer its Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
A statement from NECO’s Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani, on Saturday, stated that the move was aimed to broaden NECO’s global influence and provide quality education and assessment opportunities to students beyond Nigeria’s borders.
It also revealed that an accreditation team visited the schools to evaluate their readiness for the examinations.
The recent inspection by NECO’s accreditation team confirmed the readiness of these schools to meet the required standards for conducting NECO examinations, the statement said.
The team assessed various facilities, including classrooms, laboratories, libraries, computer labs, workshops, examination halls, and sports facilities, ensuring their suitability for the exams.
“The accreditation of additional foreign schools is a testament to NECO’s commitment to providing quality education and assessment beyond the shores of Nigeria.
With its expanding global presence, NECO is poised to become a leading examination body in Africa, offering opportunities for students worldwide to benefit from its expertise, thus contributing to the advancement of education in Africa and beyond,” the statement added.
It’s worthy of note that NECO examinations are already being administered in several African countries, including Benin Republic, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger Republic, Equatorial Guinea, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In addition, candidates are currently participating in the ongoing NECO SSCE External in Diffa, Niger Republic. The UNHCR School in Diffa is the first NECO SSCE External Centre located outside Nigeria.