The Executive Secretary of the National Senior Secondary Education Commission, Dr. Iyela Ajayi has disclosed that 40% of candidates who sat for the 2024 National Examination Council, NECO, fell short of requirements to pursue tertiary education.
The hurdle is failure to achieve credits in Mathematics and English Language.
Speaking at a five-day Capacity Building Workshop for selected English Language and Mathematics teachers in the South-South geopolitical zone, Ajayi shared concerning statistics from the 2024 NECO results. He stated that only about 61% of candidates achieved five or more credits, including in Mathematics and English, while the remaining 40% failed to meet the core subject requirements. Additionally, in the 2024 West African Examinations Council results, 28% of candidates failed to secure credits in these essential subjects, further jeopardizing their prospects of gaining admission to tertiary institutions.
Ajayi emphasized the critical role teachers play in shaping the quality of education in Nigeria, pointing out that having an advanced curriculum and modern infrastructure is futile without properly trained educators to implement them. He acknowledged the ongoing teacher shortage in terms of both quality and quantity, stressing the importance of continuous training and motivation for teachers to foster national educational development.
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He outlined the workshop’s aim to enhance teachers’ pedagogical skills, improve assessment techniques, and foster collaboration among educators. “Teachers are the backbone of any educational system, and neglecting their training is detrimental to education,” he said.
Cross River’s Commissioner for Education, Sen. Stephen Odey, also expressed support for the initiative, noting that many teachers in the state had not received professional development training due to financial constraints. He urged the participants to fully engage with the workshop and share their newfound knowledge with colleagues who could not attend.
Professor Samuel Nneji, a resource person and expert from Enugu State University of Technology, highlighted the significance of the training in equipping teachers with innovative and adaptable teaching methods. He explained that the current generation of students requires new, creative teaching strategies to improve learning outcomes, especially in less-than-ideal teaching conditions.
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