Only 28 pupils from Zamfara register for 2018 National Common Entrance Examination

EDUCATION minister Adamu Adamu has revealed that only 28 candidates from Zamfara State sat for the National Common Entrance into federal government colleges this year in a revelation that exposes how far the state lags behind the rest of the country.

By far one of the most educationally disadvantaged states in Nigeria, Zamfara, located in Nigeria's far northwest, was the first state to adopt the strict sharia Islamic code. Largely rural and agrarian, Zamfara has a huge peasant population, hardly any industries and is made up primarily of villagers who embrace religion rather than education.

Of late, matters have been compounded by communal unrest n the state that has seen cattle herdsmen and farmers involved in bloody clashes that have left hundreds dead. With the state now insecure, dozens of villages have been abandoned, fuelling the already chronic problem of young children not going to school.

Nigeria has 104 federal government colleges into which pupils are admitted representing each states upon passing the National Common Entrance Examination. However, with only 28 applicants for the 2018 examination, Zamfara is going to struggle to fill its quota of pupils unless something drastic is done to attract more candidates.

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, Mr Adamu said a directive had been given to leave the online portal for registration open until April 13. He added that a 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, with Taraba having just 95 candidates and Kebbi only 50.

An education ministry spokeswoman said: “Ahead of the 2018 National Common Entrance Examination for admission of candidates into the 104 federal government colleges on Saturday, 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.”

Despite this, however, 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. Across many states in northern Nigeria. educational activities have been disrupted by insurgency and social upheaval.