Exam Malpractice Drops by 64% as NECO Releases 2026 Internal Examination Results

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced a 58.67 percent pass rate in English Language and Mathematics for the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE). The results, released on Thursday, reflect a notable improvement in academic performance and a significant crackdown on examination irregularities across the country.

According to the Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Professor Dantani Wushishi, a total of 804,948 candidates secured five credits and above, including the mandatory subjects of English Language and Mathematics. This milestone represents a critical benchmark for students seeking admission into tertiary institutions, where proficiency in these core subjects is a universal prerequisite.

Providing a comprehensive breakdown of the examination statistics, Prof. Wushishi revealed that 1,378,048 candidates initially registered for the 2026 internal examination cycle. The registration data showed a near-perfect gender parity, comprising 682,352 male and 695,696 female candidates. Of this total, 1,371,992 candidates ultimately sat for the examination, including 678,903 males and 693,089 females. 

In a commendable display of inclusivity, the council also accommodated 1,334 candidates with special needs, ensuring they were provided with the necessary frameworks to participate fully in the national assessment. 

Beyond the core subject requirements, the overall academic performance was robust. Prof. Wushishi noted that 1,162,118 candidates, representing an impressive 84.70 percent of those who sat for the exam, obtained five credits and above, irrespective of their grades in English Language and Mathematics. This broad-based success indicates a general upward trajectory in the quality of secondary education delivery across participating schools.

Perhaps the most striking revelation from the 2026 results is the dramatic decline in examination malpractice. The Registrar disclosed that only 1,406 candidates were caught and recorded for examination irregularities in 2026. This is a stark contrast to the 3,878 cases recorded in 2025, representing a massive 64.74 percent decrease. 

Prof. Wushishi attributed this sharp decline to the council’s intensified security measures, the deployment of advanced biometric verification systems at examination centers, and a more rigorous monitoring framework. "The 2026 examination represents a significant improvement over the 2025 exercise, not just in academic outcomes, but in the integrity of the process," he stated, emphasizing that NECO remains unwavering in its zero-tolerance policy toward exam fraud.

Addressing lingering public concerns regarding the proliferation of so-called "miracle centres"—institutions notorious for allegedly guaranteeing unrealistic academic results through illicit means—Prof. Wushishi firmly distanced the examination body from such entities. 

“NECO is not aware of miracle centres because we don’t have any business with them,” the Registrar asserted. He clarified the council’s operational boundaries, stating, “We register centres and have strict criteria for which we register these centres. We don’t know miracle centres because we have only one school, and we cannot be associated with miracle centres.” This statement serves as a strong reassurance to the public that NECO’s accreditation processes are tightly regulated and that any center operating outside these guidelines does so without the council’s endorsement or knowledge.

Educational stakeholders have cautiously welcomed the 2026 results, viewing the improved pass rates and the sharp drop in malpractice as evidence that recent reforms in Nigeria’s examination management are yielding tangible results. However, experts also caution that sustained effort is required to address the remaining gaps, particularly in rural areas where infrastructural deficits and teacher shortages continue to hinder optimal student performance.

As the focus now shifts to the university and polytechnic admission cycles, the 2026 NECO results provide a reliable, credible metric for tertiary institutions to evaluate prospective students. For the over 800,000 candidates who successfully navigated the rigorous requirements of English and Mathematics, the results mark the culmination of years of hard work and the beginning of a new academic chapter.