The Basic Education Certificate (BEC) was unveiled by the Rivers State Ministry of Education on Thursday for candidates who have successfully completed basic education.

Professor Kaniye Ebeku, the State Commissioner for Education, stated during the formal presentation ceremony that the new certificate will replace the First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC), which was eliminated by the national policy on education in 2005.

Prof Ebeku highlighted that the State has been distributing the Basic Education Certificate (B.E.C), since 2006, when it transitioned from the 6.3.3.4 to the 9.3.4 system of education .

“Today, we have formerly 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,” he said.

Governor Nyesom Wike made this achievement possible, according to the Education Commissioner, who also added that the unveiling of the certificate will resolve the problems of the first School Leaving Certificate Racketeering.

“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 stated.

He also stated that children who do not have the certificate will not be accepted to the senior high school.

Mrs Mary Ejima, Director Examination, Rivers State Ministry of Education, said the launch of the certificate is an expressive confirmation of the Rivers State Government’s commitment to education development in her opening remarks.

“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,” she said.

Mrs Ejima noted that the significance of the certificate, which has superseded the First School Leaving Certificate, cannot be overstated.

Recall that in 2006, a new basic education policy merged six years of primary education with three years of junior secondary education to create the 9-3-4 education system.

𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕?
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