After banning post-UTME, Nigeria scraps common entrance interview test into unity schools

The Minister of Education,
Adamu Adamu, has announced
the cancellation of the interview
test for National Common
Entrance Examination (NCCE)
into Federal Government
colleges.
A statement issued by the
Federal Ministry of Education
on Monday in Abuja said the
cancellation of the test for NCCE
would take effect from the
2017/2018 academic year.
The statement signed by the
Deputy Director, Press, Bem
Goong, said the minister could
not establish the rationale for a
second test for NCCE organised
by the National Examination
Council (NECO).
“The second test is an
unnecessary additional financial
burden on parents/guardians,”
it quoted Mr. Adamu as saying.
“The era of multiple
examinations attracting
prohibitive fees cannot be
accommodated by the Buhari
administration, especially
against the backdrop of
government’s determination to
increase access to education as a
platform for breaking the cycle
of poverty.’’
The statement said Mr. Adamu
had directed NECO to strengthen
its examination processes with a
view to achieving quality and
credible examination for
admission into unity schools at
the first test.

It said the minister argued that
multiple examinations did not
necessarily translate to the
admission of quality pupils in
secondary schools.
The statement said Mr. Adamu
maintained that the 2016/2017
academic year remained the
effective date for the ban on
Post-UTME, advising vice-
chancellors to adhere strictly to
the policy in the overriding
public interest.