The Rivers State Government has announced the scrapping of the First School Leaving Certificate, which is to be replaced by the Basic Education Certificate.
It said the issuance of the BEC is in line with the Federal Government’s 9-3-4 education policy.
This was announced by the State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kaniye Ebeku, who spoke at the official launch of the BEC in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
According to him, the state would now begin to issue the BEC to students upon completion of junior secondary education.
Ebeku explained that with the development, employers would no longer be asking for FSLC but BEC.
He, therefore, urged all principals of junior secondary schools, parents, guardians and the general public to be aware of the new policy, adding that the State has not issued BEC since 2006.
“Today we are sending a message to the world that we will no longer issue the First School Leaving Certificate. Students must take the Basic Education Certificate Examinations to obtain BEC.
“The first certificate that will be issued to a student will now be BEC, after the students must have sat for the Basic Education Certificate Examinations at Basic Nine. There is no more first school leaving certificate. Students cannot proceed to senior secondary schools without the BEC.
“Since 2006, BEC has not been issued in Rivers State but it can be issued now on demand. Anyone claiming to have BEC from 2006 upwards is fake.
“The ministry is available to verify all certificates from 1960 till date. BEC cannot be forged. The certificate has some embossment that will make it difficult for fraudsters to replicate. Besides, the masters list is with the ministry. Any fraudster caught will be dealt with in accordance with the Nigerian laws.”
In his remarks, Chairman of Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board, Dr Wisdom Ade, said the development was a major milestone in State’s educational sector.
