Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Wants WAEC Or NECO Scraped

The Minister of Finance, Dr Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has described Nigeria’s current educational system as ineffective and advocated a paradigm shift to focus on technical and vocational training.

Dr. Okonjo Iweala, who delivered a keynote speech at the 2012 Isaac Moghalu Foundation held yesterday in Lagos, decried Nigeria’s sustained fallen standard of education over the years and blamed government, educators and parents for the problem.

The minister, who spoke on “Reforming Nigeria’s Education System: A Paradigm Shift”, said government has failed to forge a clear framework to develop the sector while the “regulatory system in the sector is largely ineffective and this reflects on the curriculum especially in many private schools of foreign origin.”

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She questioned the logic of having both WEAC and NECO conducting same exams for the same set of students at the same time, saying that one of the bodies should be scrapped because the arrangement is not adding any value to the quality of education.

27 COMMENTS

  1. She’s rit but alot needs 2 b done. Scrapin either neco or waec is not jst enuf. But alot of vocational studies need 2 b introduced as well n’ bliv me u some educators nid 2 b out of d system cos der re d 1 corruptin d system. God help NIGERIA

  2. We have to blame all .
    First Nuc , which allow college of Education to handle Bsc (EDU) WHICH MOST OF LECTURERS ARE OF LOW QUALIFICATION OF BSC & MASTERS(PRO). What produt do you expect from Bsc which taken Bsc ? Let college of education admit little students they can cope with instead of using them to generate fund . Then screen the part-time students which they are admitted . I have seen a sitation where by a graduate of college of education cannot read write well. Remember these people will teach your children in future.
    Secondly, govt should stop using force on teachers that all students must pass the exams, because many principals vow or means to see that there students pass . On these let there be thorough supervision and examination for teachers in every year .
    Parents should care for there children . Pls. Consider these,i believ it will work . Thank you .

  3. Nigeria is growing. One day, we will tel ourselves the truth. Imagine a country where some headmasters’ offices are under the tree, JSS1 to SS3 have 1 mathematics teacher and more than 750 undergraduates study under 1mini lecture hall without sound system. A lot of work need to be done.

  4. The problem is nt scrapping out either WAEC or NECN, d problem is dat our system are corrupt. Stil to ask her,was it nt d same WAEC dat she used during her own time? Am much optimistic dat d problem is nt d exams bt d body of personnels dat controls it.

  5. The problem is nt scrapping out either WAEC or NECO, d problem is dat our system are corrupt. Stil to ask her,was it nt d same WAEC dat she used during her own time? Am much optimistic dat d problem is nt d exams bt d body of personnels dat controls it.

  6. In my own opinion, the role of NECO in checking the excesses of the monopoly WAEC has enjoyed over the years cannot be overemphasized. Imagine a candidate seating at home for over 6yrs just because of WAEC. Now that NECO is in place, this issue of staying at home for years is gradually becoming a thing of the past. Secondly, the need for a national pride makes imperative for NECO to stay. Both NECO and WAEC are healthy compititors and should coexist. If you ask me, JAMB/Post UTME should be scraped and not NECO/WAEC The government should fight corruption at all level, make more budgetry provisions for education and review the issue of JAMB/post UTME.

  7. waec & neco are nt d problem f educatn in nigeria but corruptn & govt unseriousness are, duplicatn f exams like waec, jamb & post utme is nt only rigourious on d part f d students but digs endless pits in d pocket f our parents infact it is a way govt & d school authorities uses in extorting hard earned money frm our parents, either neco or waec only shld b enough 2 gain an admission into our universities, besides neco or waec is by choice, it is nt compulsory 2 take d 2 at d same time, infact having d 2 bodies is a welcomed development, it breaks monopoly nd shortens d time it takes for a student 2 gain admission.

  8. There are many trends in our education that need urgent attention. Scrapping either NECO or WAEC is never the top in the list. To me, National Orientation Agency(NOA) is currently setting the pace, for raising alarm on the examination malpractice. When either of the exam body is scrapped, things will still remain the way they are.
    Nigerian education need a facelift such as boosting the infrastructures, and demolishing the old buildings to pave way for the modern ones, adhering strictly to UNESCO student-teacher ratio of 25:1, what about the funding which is not up to the stated amount?, teachers’ salary etc.

  9. Let’s be careful not to throw away the baby with the bathwater. The truth is that NECO should be the exam body to scrap. This is because there is a syndicate in NECO that sells the good results of brilliant students to corrupt parents whose wards failed their exams.This facts should be verified. WAEC has since sustained its standard and integrity over the years. This is perhaps because the body is not wholly controlled by Nigeria. WAEC must stay while NECO should be scrapped.

  10. The fact here is there is still serious confusion on how to sort the mess out. It is a huge mess and not until education is taken seriously will the country make any progress in every other aspect.

    Everyone needs to be be educated on citizenship not just classroom teachings. But where do we start from? The classroom of course with the new generation.

    I know both ministers are working @ something, its a gradual process. Unfortunately education sector is one of those sectors that progress is very gradual not instant.

    No passing of blames-we are all responsible somehow.
    Enough of the bad mouthing.
    Solution, solution.

    Do you have the magic? Lets hear you.

  11. PERMIT ME TO AIR MY VIEWS ON THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC RAISED VIA INFORMATION NIGERIA AS READ VORACIOUSLY ON MY FACEBOOK…. IT IS HIGH TIME NIGERIANS REALIZED THE FACT THAT A LOT HAS BEEN DONE BY THE FORMER EDUCATIONAL MINISTERS TO ENHANCE THE STANDARD OF EDUCATION IN NIGERIA . BESIDES, MUCH EFFORTS AND ENERGY SHOULD BE DISSIPATED BY THE CURRENT EDUCATIONAL MINISTER AND OTHER EMMINENT NIGERIANS IN ENSURING THE PROGRESS OF THE EDUCATIONAL SECTOR. PERMIT ME TO ADVICE NIGERIANS ELITES NOT TO CRITICISE THE EDUCATIONAL SECTOR WITHOUT PROVIDING REASONABLE AND COGENT POINTS BACK UP WITH OBJECTIVE IDEAS ON HOW THINGS SHOULD FUNCTION. PROPERLY .. WAEC STANDARD HAS NEVER FALLEN AND CAN NOT FALL . WHY ?? REASONS ARE ; THE STANDARD OF THE TURN OUT QUESTIONS YEARLY REMAIN INTACT. STUDENTS WHO READ VORACIOUSLY PASSED . THOSE WHO ARE LAZY FAILED !! IF A STUDENT FAIL HE OR SHE SHOULD TAKE IT AS A CHALLENGE TO IMPROVE ON HIS OR HER STUDIES…. LIKEWISE .A SPECIAL ADVICE SHOULD GO DOWN TO THOSE WHO ARE SAYING EDUCATIONAL STANDARD HAS FALLEN , SUCH CAUCUS OF PEOPLE SHOULD SPEAK OBJECTIVELY WHAT THE PARENTS CAN DO TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN LEARN BETTER AT HOME …., THE GOVERNMENT TOO SHOULD MOTIVATE THE TEACHERS WHERE NECESSARY. .. NIGERIANS ARE TALENTED ACADEMICALLY AND WHEN MOTIVATED THEY PERFORM EXCELLENTLY ON INTERNATIONAL LEVEL THUS BRINGING GLORY TO THE COUNTRY ….. ,THEY ARE NEVER FOUND WANTING ANYWHERE THEY ARE. IS IT NOT THE SAME WAEC AND NECO THEY DID BEFORE ASPIRING TO BE WHAT THEY ARE?? SO THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE EDUCATION AS A PIORITY AND NOT A MERE POLITICAL PLAY….EDUCATION SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN WITH LEVITY AT ALL.. EVEN IF THE JOB AVAILABLE DOES NOT COMMENSURATE WITH THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HIGHLY QUALIFIED, ONE WILL KNOW THAT HE OR SHE HAS THE LEGACY TO COMBACT ANY INFERIOR CHALLENGES IN ALL WORKS OF LIVES!!! NIGERIANS SHOULD PLEASE STOP RELIGATING WHAT THEY HAVE . RATHER ,SPEAK OBJECTIVELY ON HOW SUCH SHOULD BE IMPROVED . NIGERIA HAS A NICE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS AND SUCH SHOULD BE MAINTAINED.

  12. Scrappin of neco or waec is nt issue.pls tell madam minister of finance to face her ministry.She shld nt interfere in another persons buzines bcos she and Pres.Jonathan Badluck has failed us.Just help me ask dem one single meaningful thing dey hav done or achieved in d last seven months.

  13. poverty lead us to backwardnes in area of educatn.forget about scraping.smeone who does nt eat very well may nt read very well.let us tackle area of poverty and hunger first.if nt,we are just deceivin ourslf on diferent policies