NECO Reports Decline as 58,187 Candidates Sit 2026 Common Entrance
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has reported a decline in the number of pupils who sat for the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) for admission into Federal Government Unity Colleges, with 58,187 candidates taking part nationwide. The figure represents a drop compared to candidate numbers recorded in previous years. Education authorities have linked the downward trend in common entrance applications and turnout to the current economic hardship in the country, noting that many parents are struggling to afford registration fees and other school-related costs. Officials, however, expressed hope that ongoing government policies aimed at economic recovery will eventually reverse the decline. The NCEE, conducted by NECO, remains the gateway for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 in Federal Unity Colleges across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with the examination written simultaneously in centres nationwide. Registration for […]