The Rivers State Ministry of Education on Thursday unveiled the Basic Education Certificate (BEC) for candidates who have completed basic education.
Speaking at the official unveiling ceremony, State Commissioner for Education, Professor Kaniye Ebeku, said that the new certificate replaces the First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) which was abolished by the national policy on education, in 2005.
Prof Ebeku explained that since 2006 the State adopted a transition from 6.3.3.4 to a 9.3.4 system of education, this was the first time the State is issued the Basic Education Certificate {B.E.C).
He said ”today, we have formally launched the Basic Education Certificate. This certificate is a new certificate and formally replaces the First School Leaving Certificate which the state stopped issuing in 2006”.
The Education Commissioner noted that this milestone was made possible by his Excellency, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike, and also stated that the unveiling of the certificate will address the issues of the First School Leaving Certificate Racketeering.
He said: “following the prevailing national policy on education, it is no longer appropriate to issue FSLC; working with the ICT Department we will provide an avenue to verify every certificate issued by the Ministry. There will be no room to purchase fake certificates”.
He also emphasized that students seeking admission into the senior secondary school without the certificate will not be admitted.
In separate remarks, the state Chairman, Rivers State Universal Education Board, represented by Director Jnr Secondary, Blessing Ndamati, Acting Chairman, Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board, Dr. Wisdom Ade, President, All Nigeria Confederation of Principals, Rivers State Chapter, Mr Ewor Ellah Gordon, Vice Chairman, National Association of Private School Proprietors, Mr Sunday Jaja, lauded the state government for achieving the feat. They said the development will lay to rest doubts surrounding the abolishment of the First School Leaving Certificate.
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In her opening remarks, Director Examination, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Mrs Mary Ejima, noted that the launching of the certificate is an eloquent affirmation that the Rivers State Government was committed to education development.
She said: “it will interest you to know that this is the very first time since 2006 that BEC certificates will be issued to the graduands of junior secondary school in Rivers state. This was made possible with the help of our hardworking governor who is a lover of education”.
Mrs Ejima stressed that the importance of the certificate cannot be over-emphasized, as it has replaced the First School Leaving Certificate.
Recall that in 2006, a new basic education policy merged the six years of primary education and three years of junior secondary education as basic education, giving birth to the 9-3-4 system of education.
