The Federal Capital Territory Education Secretariat has reiterated its commitment to maintaining high educational standards and ensuring access to quality and credible educational opportunities for eligible learners, as 670 candidates participated in the entrance examination for admission into the School for the Gifted, FCT.
The examination, which attracted candidates from different parts of the Territory, was conducted in a well-organised and controlled environment, with adequate arrangements put in place to ensure a fair, transparent and credible assessment process.
Monitoring the exercise on behalf of the Director, Education Resource Centre, Dr. Neemat Daud Abdulrahim, the Head of Guidance and Counselling, Mallam Yahaya Abdulwahab, said the Centre monitored the examination across the designated centres in line with its quality assurance mandate.
He explained that the monitoring was aimed at ensuring compliance with approved examination guidelines and verifying that appropriate conditions were provided for candidates to demonstrate their abilities independently.
According to him, the entrance examination serves as the basis for selecting eligible candidates for admission into the School for the Gifted, with successful candidates determined by their performance against the approved cut-off mark and in accordance with the principle of merit.
Abdulwahab reaffirmed the commitment of the Education Resource Centre to ensuring that examinations conducted within the FCT meet approved standards and are administered in an environment that promotes fairness, credibility and integrity.
He noted that the School for the Gifted remains an important component of the FCT’s commitment to identifying, nurturing and providing appropriate educational opportunities for academically gifted learners.
The participation of 670 candidates, he said, underscores the importance of providing a credible platform where prospective students can demonstrate their academic abilities and compete for admission based on merit.
Abdulwahab further stressed the importance of proper examination organisation in safeguarding the integrity of the assessment process. He noted that adequate seating arrangements, effective supervision, proper coordination of candidates and strict adherence to examination procedures were essential to minimising opportunities for examination malpractice.
“The essence of proper examination organisation is to give every candidate a fair opportunity to demonstrate what he or she knows. When the process is properly coordinated, supervised and monitored, there is little or no room for examination malpractice. Every candidate is expected to rely on his or her own preparation and ability.”
He emphasised that the FCT Education Secretariat was committed to ensuring that access to quality education was complemented by credible assessment processes, stressing that accessibility was not limited to providing candidates with the opportunity to sit for an examination, but also involved creating a conducive and equitable environment for learning and assessment.
He commended the examination officials, supervisors, invigilators, school administrators, parents and guardians for their cooperation in ensuring the smooth and orderly conduct of the exercise.
The Head of Department also urged parents and guardians to continue to support their children and wards through adequate preparation, encouragement and positive guidance, rather than placing undue pressure on them to seek unfair assistance during examinations.
He advised the candidates to remain confident and focused, explaining that the purpose of the entrance examination was to identify students with the academic potential required to benefit from the specialised learning environment provided by the School for the Gifted.
Some of the candidates expressed optimism about the exercise, describing the opportunity to participate in the entrance examination as an important step towards pursuing their academic aspirations.
Abdulwahab reiterated that the FCT Education Secretariat, through the Education Resource Centre, would continue to strengthen its quality assurance mechanisms, support the improvement of educational facilities and promote credible, inclusive and merit-based educational opportunities across the Territory.
The successful conduct and monitoring of the entrance examination further demonstrate the commitment of the FCT Administration to maintaining educational standards, promoting merit and ensuring that the selection of candidates for specialised educational opportunities is conducted in a fair, transparent and credible manner.