By George OPARA
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has published the results of the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
It also fixed July 22 and 23, 2026, as dates for the re-sit examination for candidates with deficiencies in Mathematics and English Studies.
The examination body disclosed this in a statement issued in Minna, Niger State, by its Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani.
The examination body said a total of 186,291 candidates registered for the examination, which covered 12 subjects and was conducted across the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and five foreign countries.
The Council said the examination begins on April 20 and ended on April 30, 2026, without major incidents.
NECO explained that the release of the results followed the successful conclusion of the 2026 BECE Award Committee Meeting held at its headquarters in Minna, where stakeholders reviewed the conduct of the examination and approved the publication of the results.
The Director of Basic Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr (Mrs) Folake Olatunji David, chaired the Award Committee and represented the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa.
In response to the smooth conduct of the examination and prompt release of the results, Olatunji David noted that NECO had continued to demonstrate commitment to credibility, transparency and quality assurance in the administration of public examinations.
One of the major resolutions at the meeting was the approval of the timetable for the 2026 BECE Re-sit Examination.
NECO said the re-sit examination would be conducted on July 22 and 23, 2026, and would cover only Mathematics and English Studies.
Sani explained that the exercise was specifically designed for candidates who recorded conditional deficiencies in either Mathematics, English Studies or both subjects.
According to him, the arrangement provides affected candidates with an opportunity to remedy the deficiencies and obtain the certification required for admission and placement into Senior Secondary School One (SSS1) without repeating a full academic year.
The Basic Education Certificate Examination remains a critical assessment within Nigeria’s basic education system, serving as the qualifying examination for students completing Junior Secondary School.
Education stakeholders regard the examination as an important benchmark for measuring students’ readiness for senior secondary education, while also providing education authorities with insights into learning outcomes under the Universal Basic Education programme.
The 2026 registration figure of 186,291 candidates represents an increase over the 179,201 candidates recorded in 2025, reflecting growing participation and sustained confidence in the examination process.
The participation of candidates from five foreign countries further underscores the expanding reach of NECO examinations beyond Nigeria’s borders.
NECO urged eligible candidates, parents and schools to take advantage of the re-sit opportunity and ensure compliance with all registration requirements within the stipulated period.
The Award Committee meeting was attended by principals of secondary schools from different parts of the country alongside members of NECO’s management team, who reviewed the conduct of the examination and made recommendations for future improvements.
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