Education Minister Raises Concern Over Absenteeism in 2026 National Common Entrance Exam (NCEE)

Despite an overall positive assessment of the conduct of the ongoing examination exercise, concerns have been raised over a notable level of student absenteeism recorded in one of the examination halls.

Prof. Ahmad, the minister for education, who commended the general organisation and smooth running of the exercise, however, drew attention to what she described as an unusual pattern of absence among registered candidates. According to her, officials observed that a significant number of students who were duly registered for the examination failed to turn up on the scheduled day.

She specifically noted that in one of the halls, as many as 18 candidates were absent, a figure she said stood out and should not be ignored given its potential implications for the examination process and candidate participation.

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“We observed that there are a number of students absent from the examination. In one of the halls, we had about 18 students absent. We need to look into the factors responsible because that is quite a high number,” she said.

While she did not immediately attribute the absenteeism to any single cause, Prof. Ahmad stressed the importance of further investigation to determine whether the issue stemmed from logistical challenges, personal circumstances, transportation difficulties, health-related issues, or other underlying factors affecting candidates’ ability to sit for the examination.

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She emphasised that understanding the reasons behind such a level of absence is crucial, especially in ensuring fairness, accountability, and improved planning in future examination exercises.

Education stakeholders have also previously warned that repeated absenteeism during major examinations can undermine student performance outcomes and distort participation data, making it difficult to fully assess the effectiveness of the examination system.

The development adds a layer of concern to an otherwise smoothly conducted exercise, with officials now expected to review attendance patterns more closely as the examination continues.

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