The Federal Government has barred senior secondary school students 1 and 2 from sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), National Examination Council (NECO) and National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).

The Federal Ministry of Education directed principals of unity schools to expel senior students who sit for external examinations before SS3 class, as they could distract other students from achieving their goals.

This was contained in a circular signed by Binta Abdulkadir, Director, Senior Secondary Education at the education ministry and distributed to principals of unity schools.

The ministry said the ban was necessary to uphold the standard of education in the country.

The circular reads: “The ministry’s attention has been drawn to the flagrant disregard to its directive on (the) writing of external examinations such as NABTEB (NTC and NBC), WASSCE, NECO (SSCE) by SS1 and SS2 students.

“Students who are involved in the practice find it difficult to settle down on serious studies. They become unruly and distract other students from achieving their goals.

“Any student caught to have written any of the above examinations in SS1 or SS2 classes will be expelled from the college. All students must write these examinations after they have been duly registered for the examination by the college.

“All students of Federal Unity College should adhere strictly to the content of this circular. And Principals are advised to bring the content of this circular to the knowledge of all parents of the college”.