The National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria has commended the National Examination Council for the successful conduct of the 2024 National Common Entrance Examination.

Deputy National President of NAPTAN, Adeolu Ogunbanjo, described the exercise as a positive development for the education sector.

In 2023, the Federal Government directed that children under 10 would no longer be allowed to sit the NECC for admission into Federal Government Colleges and Unity Schools across the country.

Mr Ogunbanjo stated, “I am impressed with the general conduct of this year’s NCEE, particularly because NECO, the organising body, adhered to their commitments, which is highly commendable.

“Despite the age limit, we still had a high number of candidates here in Lagos, indicating that we can achieve success by supporting the government’s directives. Moving forward, I urge parents to continue to cooperate by adhering to the necessary measures put in place by the government to address some irregularities, all for the betterment of our children.’’

Meanwhile, Kenneth Chiedu, a parent whose daughter participated in the examination at Sonmori Comprehensive High School Ifako Ijaiye, described the exercise as well-organised.

According to him, NECO officials were present early, confirmed the candidates and the examination started exactly at 9:00 a.m., finishing at 3:00 p.m., while parents were asked to maintain their distance.

Similarly, another parent, Isaac Oyenegecha, noted that the age 10 requirement was strictly observed by NECO officials, as students were checked into the hall with printouts containing their details, including age.

Mr Oyenegecha said, “The age restriction was rigorously enforced, although none of the candidates were disqualified, indicating that they all met the age 10 requirements during registration. Here in Festac Grammar School, some students complained after the examination that the verbal and quantitative papers were challenging, but Mathematics and English were more manageable.”

A total of 70,603 candidates nationwide participated in the 2024 NCEE into Federal Unity Colleges, with Lagos recording 17,751 pupils.

(NAN)