In a groundbreaking educational intervention, over 13,000 Senior Secondary School 3 (SS3) students across four North-eastern states are participating in a quiz assessment under the Academic Science and STEM Education Program (ASSEP).
The programme which started on Tuesday, November 19, ended on Thursday, November 21, 2024, the initiative aims to enhance STEM education and exam readiness in Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, and Yobe states.
ASSEP is a key component of the Federal Government’s efforts, through the North East Development Commission (NEDC), to enhance education outcomes in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe. This aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
During ASSEP’s launch in Bauchi in May, Vice President Kashim Shettima urged North-East state governors to leverage the program to bridge educational gaps and improve learning outcomes in the region.
Students are testing their knowledge across seven critical subjects, which form the scope of assessment: English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Agricultural Science, and Further Mathematics.
This assessment is part of a broader federal government initiative, led by the North East Development Commission (NEDC), to strengthen educational outcomes in the region.
Participation spanned four states, with Bauchi presenting 932 students, Borno 4,020 students from 10 schools, Gombe 5,002 students from 17 schools, and Yobe 3,341 students from 8 schools. In total, 13,295 students from one senatorial district in each state participated in this phase of the program.
The ASSEP quiz assessment aims to promote academic excellence, encourage mastery of STEM subjects among students, foster healthy competition, and create a platform for students to showcase their skills in a supportive environment.
It also aims to enhance exam preparation, equip students with practical experience to prepare for national exams like WAEC, NECO, and JAMB, and involve schools, educators, and local communities in driving positive educational outcomes.
The reports from the participating states show that in Borno, schools such as GDSS Mafoni, Brigadier Maimalari DSS, and GGC Maiduguri are successfully conducting their assessments under strict supervision.
In Yobe, Mathematics assessments were observed at GGC Damaturu, and in Gombe, students at Government Arabic College and Government Day Secondary School actively participated in the tests. Similar reports highlighted the smooth execution of the assessment in Bauchi.
To ensure fairness and integrity during the competition, Vice principals are supervising exams in schools other than their own, and answer sheets will be centrally collected and redistributed for marking.
As part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, ASSEP is transforming education in North-East Nigeria by focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Agriculture (STEMA). This intervention aligns with global best practices for building intellectual and economic capacity.
By prioritizing education, the Federal Government underscores its commitment to fostering academic excellence and human empowerment in Nigeria’s North-East region.
Rabiatu Adamu, Vice Principal, Government Day Secondary School. Exam was peaceful, students busy writing their exams. The exam will take the same shape, without any communication among the students
Some of the participating students in Borno state; Safiya Haruna of Maiduguri Capital School, Maryamu Bitrus of Government Girls Colege, Maiduguri and Hauwa Mohammed commended the novel initiative and thanked NEDC for the laudable programme and assured that their results of next WAEC and NECO will be better.
Several of the Invigilators across the 4 states where the quiz test is taking place were full of appreciation, saying they never had it so good and it’s a veritable approach of preparing their students ahead of the 2025 exams
