The National Examination Council (NECO) has released the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results for internal candidates, conducted between June and July 2024. The announcement was made by NECO Registrar, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, in Minna, Niger State, who noted that the results were published just 55 days after the conclusion of the last paper.
Overview of 2024 Examination
A total of 1,376,423 candidates registered for the 2024 SSCE, comprising 706,950 males and 669,473 females. However, 1,367,736 candidates (706,950 males and 669,473 females) sat for the exams. This figure reflects a slight increase compared to the 1,205,888 candidates who registered in 2023, with 1,196,985 eventually sitting for the exams.
Of the 2024 candidates, 828,284 (60.55%) achieved at least five credits, including English and Mathematics, while 1,147,597 (83.90%) secured five credits or more irrespective of these two core subjects. In comparison, the 2023 results showed that 737,308 candidates (61.60%) earned five credits, including English and Mathematics, and 1,013,611 (84.68%) achieved five credits without regard to the core subjects.
Top Performing States in 2024
Abia State emerged as the top performer, with 83.40% of its candidates (9,054 out of 10,856) attaining five credits, including English and Mathematics. Imo State followed closely with 80.98%, as 19,226 of its 23,741 candidates secured the same qualifications. Ebonyi State came third with 80.55%, having 10,782 of its 13,386 candidates earning five credits, including English and Mathematics.
Other states with high performance include:
- Cross River: 76.68% (13,154 out of 17,155)
- Delta: 76.29% (16,165 out of 21,189)
- Ogun: 75.73%
- Ekiti: 75.48%
- Bayelsa: 75.29%
- Lagos: 73.48%
- Kebbi: 72.51%
In comparison, the 2023 results also saw Abia leading with 85.30%, followed by Imo (80.80%), while Kebbi (80.55%) and Lagos (75.88%) ranked third and fourth, respectively. The performance trend shows that Abia and Imo have consistently held the top two spots over the past two years, with states like Kebbi, Cross River, Delta, Ogun, and Lagos maintaining their positions in the top 10.
States with Lowest Performance
Katsina State recorded the lowest performance in 2024, with only 29,633 of its 70,553 candidates (42%) securing five credits, including English and Mathematics. This was followed by Kano State, where 65,264 out of 146,917 candidates (44.42%) passed with five credits, including the core subjects. Jigawa came third from the bottom, with only 46.84% of its 34,013 candidates passing with five credits. Other states with low performance include:
- Borno: 48.68%
- Zamfara: 48.68%
In 2023, Zamfara had the lowest performance at 39.10%, followed by Niger (46.87%) and Jigawa (49.63%). Katsina and Zamfara switched places in 2024, with the former now ranking as the lowest-performing state.
Performance in General Subjects
In English, of the 1,353,211 candidates who took the exam, only 3.45% achieved an A1, while 53.11% earned a C grade (C4 to C6). In Mathematics, 3.67% scored an A1, and 55.63% earned a C grade. The results in Civic Education were similarly modest, with 2.50% achieving an A1, while 54.02% managed a C.
Comparing the 2023 results, students generally performed better in Mathematics than in English, with similar trends observed across other subjects.
Decline in Examination Malpractice
NECO also reported a significant decline in examination malpractices in 2024, with 8,437 candidates involved in various forms of cheating, a 30.1% reduction from the 12,030 cases recorded in 2023. English Language led the subjects with the most malpractice cases (2,168 candidates), followed by Biology (982 cases) and Marketing (884 cases).
Prof. Wushishi also highlighted that 40 schools in 17 states were implicated in mass cheating and would face sanctions. One school in Ekiti State was recommended for de-recognition due to widespread cheating in multiple subjects. Additionally, 21 supervisors were blacklisted for poor supervision, aiding malpractice, and other offenses.
Comments from Experts
Educationist Michael Ojonugwa praised the general improvement in student performance but emphasized the need for more support for states like Zamfara and Jigawa, which are grappling with insecurity. He also highlighted the importance of reducing exam malpractice, noting that supervisors and school authorities must play a stronger role in preventing cheating.
Ojonugwa added, “While parents and students may attempt to cheat to secure good grades, the responsibility lies with schools and exam bodies to maintain the integrity of the process.”
