By Kehinde Oluwatayo

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No fewer than 1500 candidates in Ondo State sat for the NECO National Common Entrance Examination into Federal Government Unity Colleges at the weekend.
Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Lola Amuda who led a monitoring team to some of the exam centres in Akure expressed satisfaction over the conduct.
According to her, other centres in Ikare and Okitipupa were monitored by the Zonal Education Officers of the respective zones and have sent feed back to them.
On the level of compliance with covid 19 protocols as laid down by the state government, Amuda described it as okay since majority of the students used their nose masks and social distancing and other protocols were observed.
Amuda agreed that the level of awareness on the registration for the exam was low as some parents complained that they were not aware of the registration but only heard of the exam.
She said the ministry will continue to help NECO to create awareness so that more candidates can register for the exam in the state and called on NECO to do more in that regard.
“We will help NECO to create awareness henceforth so that more children can register in the state. NECO itself can go on air so that more parents can be aware,” She said.
The first port of call was Fiwasaye Girls’ Grammar School and at 9:07am the students were already accredited and were waiting for exam to commence. Majority of the pupils wore their nose masks and social distancing was also observed.
The team arrived at Federal Government Girls’ College at 9: 22am where pupils were also waiting for the commencement of the exam.
At 9:59am when the team reached St Peter’s College, the first paper which is general paper had commenced and majority of the pupils had their nose masks on.
The team also visited Oyemekun Grammar School and Aquinas College where the pupils were still writing the first paper.
In all the centres visited, majority of the pupils wore their nose masks while some said they left their own with
their parents who were not allowed into the premises.
Amuda however enjoined the pupils to always put on their nose masks whenever they want to write public exam.