The Federal Government has announced the release of the results of this year’s National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) for admission into the Junior Secondary School (JSS 1) of Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs) conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO).

The government also released the results of the separate entrance examination conducted for admission into the Federal Government Academy (FGA) in Suleja, Niger State.

The examination was conducted on June 14; it recorded 64,578 registered candidates, 61,290 sitting, and 3,288 absent.

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, announced the release of the results yesterday at a media briefing in Abuja in the company of the NECO Registrar, Prof Ibrahim Wushishi, who officially presented the results to the minister at the event.

Ahmad said it was a moment of fulfilment and progress for basic education in Nigeria.

She said: “Out of the maximum obtainable score of 210, 13 candidates obtained the highest score of 202, while 27 candidates obtained the lowest score of one.

“This year, an unprecedented number of 52 candidates (two candidates from Lagos and 50 candidates from Rivers) were involved in examination malpractice.”

Commenting on the conduct of the FGA Suleja examination, Ahmad said 3,421 candidates registered, 3,141 sat, and 280 were absent.

The highest score, the minister said, is 194, while the lowest is one.

She explained that admission criteria remained 60 per cent merit, 30 per cent equality of states, and 10 per cent exigency.

Ahmad directed the Senior Secondary Education Department to ensure prompt conclusion of admissions and in line with laid-down guidelines.

She added: “It is common knowledge that our Federal Unity Colleges have become the first port of call for most parents in the country.

“I want to assure all Nigerian parents that the government will continue to do its best to improve infrastructural development, feeding, and teacher quality for effective teaching and learning in our colleges.”