THE National Examination Council (NECO) says a total of 12,084 candidates were arrested for their involvement in examination malpractices during the conduct of the 2018 November/December Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

Acting Registrar of NECO, Abubakar Gana who disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday when announcing the release of the result of the 2018 November/December SSCE said the figure was 7,659 higher than that of 2017 which was just 4,425.

This according to him, shows the desperation by candidates to cut corners and also “the determination by the Council to apprehend the culprits, in line with our zero tolerance for examination malpractice.”

Gana said a total number of 59,963 candidates registered for the examination and while a total of 28 subjects were examined.

Examination malpractice attracts N50,000 fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or both fine and imprisonment.

It is not clear how many candidates have been prosecuted in Nigeria for examination malpractice by the examination body since its inception.

On the performance of candidates in the examination, he explained that 57,842 candidates sat for English Language out of which 44,497 representing 76.93 per cent got either distinction or credit.

He added that 57,275  candidates sat for Mathematics, out of which 47,151 representing 82.32 per cent got either distinction or credit.

The Registrar further disclosed that  37,069 candidates, representing 62,48 per cent got five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

“While 47,031 candidates, representing 79.27 per cent got five credits and above, irrespective of English Language and Mathematics,” he said.

“A comparative analysis of candidates who scored five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics for 2017 and 2018 shows 56.79 per cent for 2017 and 62.48 per cent for 2018. This represents an increase of 5.69 per cent in 2018.”