The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) has released the results of the 2024 NBC/NTC examinations, revealing that 55% of candidates scored five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics. While this performance reflects some success, the board expressed concerns over the increasing issue of exam malpractice.
Speaking in Benin, Edo State, the Acting Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Dr. Nnasia Asanga, disclosed that 44,000 out of the 67,340 candidates who took the exam achieved five credits, including crucial subjects like English and Mathematics. He further explained that a total of 62,235 candidates (92.42%) obtained five credits and above with or without English and Mathematics.
“The 2024 in-school NBC/NTC examinations were conducted nationwide from June 27 to July 31, 2024, with 67,751 candidates registered in 1,708 centers across the country, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,” Asanga said.
He added that 67,340 candidates eventually sat for the exam, marking a 25% increase in enrollment compared to the 2023 figures, where 54,301 students took part.
Dr. Asanga highlighted the impressive growth in student enrollment, which he said underscores the increasing interest in technical and vocational education.
“This enrollment figure represents a 24.77% increase over the 2023 in-school certificate examinations,” he said.
The 2024 exams covered a wide range of subjects, including 16 engineering trades, seven construction trades, nine miscellaneous trades, four business trades, and 16 general education subjects. The exams serve as a crucial step in certifying candidates as craftsmen and technical professionals, with 67% of the candidates earning their certification, an increase from the 52% recorded in 2023.
However, Dr. Asanga also raised concerns over the growing issue of examination malpractice. He revealed that 349 candidates, representing 0.52% of those who sat for the exams, were involved in some form of malpractice. This is a slight increase from the 0.45% recorded in 2023.
“Examination malpractice is becoming a pervasive threat to the validity and reliability of educational assessments, eroding trust in the system and undermining fairness,” Asanga lamented.
He stressed that malpractice not only betrays the trust of educators and policymakers but also robs students of the opportunity to develop critical skills such as problem-solving and lifelong learning.
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To address this issue, NABTEB has introduced innovative approaches aimed at combating malpractice and fostering a culture of academic integrity.
“We remain committed to promoting authentic learning experiences and ensuring that the qualifications obtained by candidates are a true reflection of their abilities,” he added.
Despite the challenges, the 2024 results showed a mixed performance when compared to 2023. While more candidates were certified as craftsmen, the percentage of those who scored five credits including English and Mathematics dropped slightly.
In 2023, 73.19% of candidates achieved this feat, compared to 55% in 2024. However, the overall percentage of students who obtained five credits, regardless of English and Mathematics, remained stable at 92%.