The National Examinations Council (NECO) is Nigeria’s first indigenous Examination body established to conduct examinations. The Council conducts examinations in Nigeria, which are comparable internationally.
VISION
Preparing and administering credible standardised nationally and internationally acceptable examinations, which can enable the Nigerian child to further his education without let or hindrance. In a more specific term, NECO envisions a status of leadership similar to that of Quality and Curriculum Authority of Britain and Education and Testing Service of America.
MISSION
To ensure that the examinations conducted by NECO are in conformity with the provision, expectations and yearnings of the National Policy on Education and the National Curriculum.
To ensure that the role of the schoolteacher as the primary instructor of the child is upheld in certification through the implementation of a credible, dynamic and reliable continuous assessment provided for by the National Policy on Education.
Working in concert with relevant organizations, agencies and bodies, to bring total eradication of all forms of examination malpractices in the country.
Drawing from the many opportunities provided by Information Technology (IT) to modernize the process of conducting and speedily releasing results of examination conducted by the Council.
To continuously engage in Research towards improvement of all aspects of the examinations conducted by the Council.
MANDATE
Section 7 of NECO’s enabling Act provides that NECO shall be responsible for:
(a) revising and considering, annually, in the public interest the examinations to be held for admission into Federal Government Colleges and other allied institutions;
(b) collecting and disseminating information on all matters relating to admission into Federal Government Colleges and other allied institutions;
(c) the general control and conduct of the National Common Entrance Examinations for admission into Federal Government Colleges and other allied institutions;
(d) developing and administering selection examinations into the Suleja Academy in accordance with such guidelines as may be approved, from time to time, by the Minister;
(e) developing, administering and conducting aptitude tests for all candidates into Federal Government Colleges and other allied institutions;
(f) monitoring, collecting and keeping records of continuous assessment in all Federal Government Colleges and other allied institutions and in the Suleja Academy towards the award of the Junior and Senior School Certificates;
(g) the general control of the conduct of the Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations in all Federal Government Colleges and other allied institutions and in the Suleja Academy;
(h) the general control of the conduct of the internal and external Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations in Nigeria without prejudice to the existing power and functions of the West African Examinations Council;
(i) conducting a Standard National Assessment of Educational Performance at junior and senior Secondary School levels;
(j) conducting researches leading to national improvement of testing and examination procedures at Junior and Senior Secondary School levels;
(k) preparing and submitting to the Minister annual report on standards of examinations and such other related matters as the Minister may, from time to time, require; and
(l) Carrying out such other activities as are expedient for the discharge of all or any of the functions conferred on the Council under or to this Act.