The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu has disclosed that only 28
candidates from Zamfara State registered for the 2018 National Common
Entrance Examination. Adamu, in a statement released in Abuja by the spokesperson of the
Ministry of Education, Mrs. Priscillia Ihuoma, also said the Federal
Government was worried about the low number of candidates seeking
admission into its 104 colleges across the country.
Pleading with state governments, heads of schools and interest groups
to persuade school-age children in the areas with low registration to
register for the examination, he said that a directive had been given to
leave the portal open for registration until April 13.
Adamu said the report of a stakeholders’ meeting held recently
indicated that Taraba, Kebbi and Zamfara states had the lowest number of
candidates who registered for the entrance examination. While Taraba
had 95 candidates, Kebbi had 50.
The release read in part, “Ahead of the 2018 National Common Entrance
Examination for admission of candidates into the 104 Federal Government
colleges onSaturday, April 14, the minister has expressed worry over
low registration for the examination so far.
“According to him, the report of a meeting of major stakeholders in
the education sector said candidates registered in 2018 stood at 71,294
as against 80,421 that wrote the examination in 2017.
“The report further shows three states with the highest number of
pupils registered so far are: Lagos with 24,465 candidates, the Federal
Capital Territory, Abuja, with 7,699 and Rivers State with 4,810
candidates respectively. On the other hand, three states with extreme
low registration are: Zamfara with only 28 candidates, Kebbi, 50 and
Taraba, 95 candidates respectively.”
The minister said the examination would go on as planned and urged
state governments, parents, heads of schools and relevant interest
groups in areas to take steps to remedy the situation.