NECO: Kwara govt warns principals against illegal charges, exam malpractices

Kwara State Government has warned principals of Senior Secondary Schools across the state against illegal charges for the 2025 National Examination Council (NECO) registration for prospective students.

The Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, issued the warning during the floating exercise which marks the commencement of year 2025 registration for Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) at Saint Anthony’s Secondary School, Ilorin, the state capital.

She warned that the state government will not tolerate additional charges from any principal apart from the approved fee for NECO by the ministry

“It is illegal and contrary to the policy thrust of this present administration which the ministry is instrumental to executing.

“The Executive Governor is not aware of your overcharging and has not granted approval for anyone to do so. No student or parent should be burdened with extra fees for exam”, she stated.

Hajia Kawu urged the principals to desist from all forms of examination malpractices and acts that could dent the image of the government, vowing that any principal found inhuman would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

The Commissioner also cautioned them against aiding and abetting examination malpractices, stressing that the present administration in the state has zero tolerance for examination malpractices.

“I want to make it known that anyone found guilty of these malpractices will face severe consequences.

“Such a person will be subjected to full investigation and brought before a panel of judges. There will be no exemptions or tolerance for this kind of behaviour,” Hajia Kawu further cautioned.

The Commissioner appreciated the unrelenting efforts of the principals at ensuring good and quality education for the success of students across the schools in the state.

She solicited continued support from the principals for Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq-led administration which she said is committed to the welfare of teachers and the citizens.

Hajia Kawu disclosed that the governor, in keeping faith with his resolution to improve education standards in the state, had embarked on series of constructions and renovations of schools.

The commissioner applauded the governor for the approval of the payment of re-accreditation fees for 236 schools due for the NECO re-accreditation in year 2024, adding that “for year 2025, the governor in his magnanimity had also approved the payment of re-inspection fees of 48 Schools for WAEC.

The break down of the approved registration fees for SSCE (NECO) 2025 indicated that NECO fees is N27,000; E-registration charges is N1,250; Administrative charges is N2,000; Four figure table is N500.00; and Waterproof certificate jacket is N2500, making the total per candidate to be N33,250.

The Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Teaching Service Commission, TESCOM, Mallam Bello Tauheed Abubakar, commended Governor AbdulRazaq for the successes recorded in the education sector such as the recruitment of most suitable and qualified teachers in the ongoing recruitment exercises.

Earlier, the Director, Curriculum and Assessment, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs Victoria Funmilayo Adewuyi, urged the principals to shun all acts that could dent their images before, during and after the examination.

In his remark, the President of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools in the state, Comrade Mohammed Baba Saliu, commended the governor for appointing the right people to run the affairs of the education sector, promising to justify the confidence reposed on them by discharging their constitutional duties effectively.