National Examination Council Research Articles

Assessing Population Invariance of 2021 Agricultural Science Examination of National Examination Council (NECO) in North Central Nigeria

Purpose: This study examines the challenges and implications of equating scores from different test forms, focusing on the 2021 NECO Agricultural Science examinations in North Central Nigeria. It considers factors such as school location, school type (public vs. private), and test administration (internal vs. external) to evaluate the extent to which these equated scores maintain invariance across different populations. Methodology: The study employs a non-equivalent anchor test (NEAT) group equating design and analyzes data from a population of 97,413 Senior Secondary students using the IRT statistical tool. Findings: The key findings reveal significant disparities in the equated scores between internal and external examinations, as well as between urban and rural locations. These discrepancies challenge the fairness and comparability of the examinations, raising concerns about potential biases and inequities in educational assessment. Significance: The research highlights the importance of achieving population invariance in test equating methodologies. It recommends adopting efficient equating methods, such as mean equating, and utilizing the Item Response Theory (IRT) approach for standardized test development to ensure fairness and equity in educational evaluations.

Analysis of differential item functioning in agricultural science examination across southwestern nigeria's senior schools

Differential Item Functioning poses a threat to test fairness and validity in educational assessments. To this end, this study probes the incidence of DIF in the Senior School Certificate Agricultural Science Examination (SSCASE) across school locations in Southwestern Nigeria. It determined the magnitude of DIF using item parameters in SSCASE. The study applies one, two and three-parameter logistic models to analyze the dichotomous data responses of 818 randomly selected students from urban and rural locations. The ex-post facto design adopted the 2015 National Examination Council SSCE in Agricultural Science as its instrument (α =0.887) in this study. The study population comprised SSCE candidates from Osun, Ondo, and Oyo. The results showed the magnitude of DIF in SSCASE was large and moderate (1PLM=0.52 significant DIF, 2PLM=0.45 moderate DIF, 3PLM=0.47 moderate DIF) across school locations. The study concluded that 1, 2 and 3 PLMs can produce fair items in SSCASE.

Perception of the teacher trainees on the implementation of e-assessment in the selected Teacher Training Colleges in Kenya

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) is currently implementing the integration of technology in conducting assessments to replace the traditional mode of paper and pen. The purpose of this study is to examine the perception of the teacher trainees towards the implementation of e-assessment in the upgrade course of the Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (UDPTE). The study adopted a descriptive research design and was carried out in two (2) public teacher training colleges with a target population of two hundred and forty (240) teacher trainees for the UDPTE programme. All the trainees in the sampled colleges were purposively selected to participate in the study since all of them had participated in the formative e-assessment. An online Teacher Trainees Questionnaire (TTQ) was used to collect information relating to trainees' perception of e-assessment. The reliability coefficient alpha (α) of TTQ was found to be 0.78 from the pilot study making the instrument valid for data collection. The data collected was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics by the use of SPSS software version 26.0. The study findings established that a significant number of teacher trainees were upgrading in Option B as compared to Option A learning areas. The teacher trainees believed that the best way to finance the Upgrade of Diploma in Primary Teacher Education program (UDPTE) in Kenya was by using bursaries or scholarships and not loans. A significant number of teacher trainees support the adoption of e-assessment but they are of the view that the colleges were not yet prepared due to lack of necessary technological infrastructure. It was further noted that the teacher trainees need more training on basic computer skills in order to improve their typing skills for responses to enhance the complete submission of assessments on the portal in their respective learning areas. The Ministry of Education needs to equip the teacher training colleges with the necessary technological infrastructure and continuously retool tutors on how to integrate technology tools in the assessment procedures.

Coverage of English syllabus in secondary schools in Kenya: A comparative study in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Education delivers large, consistent returns in terms of income, and is the most important factor to ensure equality of opportunities. Having education in an area helps people think, feel, and behave in a way that contributes to their success, and improves not only their personal satisfaction but also their community. Worldwide, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG4 calls for access to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030. A Syllabus is an important tool in a bid to acquire quality education. Firstly, it delineates the responsibilities of students and the instructors. It offers information about what should be discussed, what students are supposed to do, and how these results are evaluated. In the Kenyan Education system, all the learning processes depends crucially upon the mastery of the fundamental skills of English Language, which is vital not only for educational purpose but also for economic competitiveness. The government of Kenya has come up with policies that ensure that at the end of secondary school, students are able to communicate competitively using the English language. However, there has been a worrying concern from both employers and educationists that the employees and graduates, respectively, have poor English language skills. The aim of this study was to establish the existing gaps between stated government policies on the syllabus coverage in teaching of English in secondary schools in Kenya on one hand and on the other the actual school practices during the implementation of these policies. This study was based on structural functionalism theory by Durkheim. It adopted descriptive research design which was carried out in public secondary schools in Nairobi County. The study had a target population of 480 from 60 Schools which included: the heads of English department and teachers of English. The study employed purposive sampling where the schools’ Heads of English Department (HODs) and teachers of English were purposively sampled into 62 respondents composed of 8 HODs and 56 teachers. Questionnaires and observation checklists were used to collect data. The qualitative data was grouped into different categories depending on the responses given by the respondents. Those categories helped in establishing themes. Through the use of the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) program, quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics percentages, frequencies, and tables where appropriate. The Key finding in this study was that all the government policies on coverage of syllabus during teaching of English were not being fully implemented as required. The study recommended that teachers of English access regular professional development programs to enhance their teaching and acquire skills to enable them overcome some of the challenges they were facing during the coverage of the English syllabus during teaching; The Kenya National Examination council (KNEC) is to come up with an oral exam and a listening exam to help students achieve communication competence in English.

Mathematics Teachers’ Use of National Assessment Feedback Reports in Improving Pedagogical Practices in Secondary Schools

Despite its importance in contributing to economic development, the trend of Mathematics performance has been low. The National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA) provides Mathematics assessment reports to the schools, highlighting students’ strengths and weaknesses and recommending teachers to improve their teaching and learning practices. However, Mathematics performance in national examinations is still poor. This study examined how Mathematics teachers utilise Form Two National Assessment - Students’ Item Response Analysis (FTNA-SIRA) feedback reports to enhance their teaching practices. Specifically, the study focused on teachers’ perceptions and use of assessment feedback reports and their challenges. This qualitative study employed a phenomenology design that purposively selected 33 participants from ten (10) districts after obtaining their consent. The study used interviews and open-ended questionnaires to collect and analyse information using thematic analysis. Mathematics teachers admitted they hardly access feedback reports, and most of them revealed that they could not use them despite understanding their importance. Three Mathematics teachers from urban areas admit that using assessment feedback they accessed from the NECTA website improved their classroom teaching practices. However, underutilisation of the feedback is due to frailty in utilising online copies, reports remaining at the district or heads of schools’ offices, and low motivation and skills in implementing the recommendations provided. Underutilisation of assessment feedback hardly informs any pedagogical improvement, which risks the continuation of poor Mathematics performance. The study recommends establishing strategies for teachers’ effective use of assessment feedback for improving pedagogical practices, including capacity building, feedback use framework and motivation.

Differentiated Assessments for Learners with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities in Inclusive Elementary Schools in Tanzania

Differentiated Instructions and modifications in curriculum and assessments are considered a prerequisite for the successful inclusion of learners with disabilities in general education. This qualitative study assessed the current provisions and the aspired changes in the curriculum, assessments, and transition plans for learners with Neurodevelopmental Diversities such as Autism in Tanzania. A total of 21 participants partaken in this study. The participants were obtained through purposive and snowball sampling methods. Data collection methods included in-depth interviews, documentary reviews and non-participant observation. Data were analyzed thematically, aided by the vivo 12. Participants were of the opinion that there is a limited provision with regard to only time (an additional twenty minutes in every hour for mathematics and ten minutes in each hour for other subjects) within the subsidiary legislation of the Examination regulations released by the National Examination Council of Tanzania (NECTA) in 2016. The provision, however, does not mention any neurodevelopmental disabilities in the categories of disabilities and the special provisions entitled to them. Lack of reasonable accommodations in the type and structure of questions, rigid modality of responses to the examination questions for learners with learning disabilities and limited flexibility in time and room arrangements have been mentioned as barriers to proper assessments for such learners. The study concludes that there is a need to embrace the evidence-based practices of responsive education, instead of the “one-size-fits-all” kind of education. This will help to improve the curriculum for all learners instead of the approach to “fix” the deficits of learners with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Proposal for Aligning the National Examinations Council of Tanzania’s Roles with Principles of Education for Self-Reliance

The paradigm shift from content to competence-based curriculum in the first decade of the 21st century had brought with it the inevitability of transforming the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA) towards competence-based assessment (CBA). Although the council has a success story of fulfilling its mission of providing fair, efficient, and effective educational assessment, it does not seem to have fully shifted its attention to those educational reforms made. This study was undertaken to highlight the need for transforming NECTA so that its operations are in line with the principles of Education for Self-Reliance (ESR) and CBA. It employed the bibliometric strategy; the study retrieved information using the Google Scholar tool using keywords such as education for self-reliance, national curriculum framework, NECTA guidelines and education policy, CBC, and NECTA Act. Although a total of 63 were retrieved, only 8 documents met the inclusion criteria. content analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that although NECTA claims to have shifted its attention towards competence-based assessment procedures, it has not fully integrated those CBA procedures to grasp the principles of ESR. It concludes that NECTA’s current operations are not aligned with the objective for which it was formed. The study recommends a need for transformation of NECTA’s assessment procedures to be able to match with the 21st century situation.

Examiners’ Feedback Reports and their Effects on Mathematics Performance in Tanzanian Secondary Schools

The National Examination Council of Tanzania (NECTA) issues Candidates Items Response Analysis reports (CIRA) as feedback reports for improving performance in secondary schools. Despite such initiative, the performance is in critical condition. Therefore, this paper presented in the NECTA 50th years’ anniversary conference which had the theme about ‘Assessment bodies as stirrers for effective learning’, evaluated such reports. Specifically, the study explored students’ awareness of candidates’ items response analysis reports; examined the perceived usefulness of candidates’ items responses analysis reports; evaluated the availability of candidates’ items analysis reports, assessed students access of candidates’ items response analysis reports and evaluated the influence of candidates’ items responses analysis reports on mathematics performance in secondary schools. The study adopted a sequential exploratory mixed methods design, multiple regression model and feedback intervention theory. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires and interview from students and teachers in secondary schools. The study found that, most of the students in secondary schools are not aware of examiners’ feedback reports issued by the National Examination Council of Tanzania, hence do not make use of them, as the results they influence little on mathematics performance. Therefore, the study concludes that, there is a dire need for enforcing the effective utilization of such reports for improving performance. The study recommends therefore, teachers’ professional training institutions, T.I.E and ADEM to incorporate the use of feedback reports in their training packages. Further study may develop intervention programme on effectiveness use of feedback reports for improving performance in secondary schools.

Applauding or Criticising the Announcement of the Best School and Student in the National Examination: Which Way to Go?

On 29th January 2023, the National Examination Council of Tanzania (NECTA) stopped announcing the best-performing schools and students. The announcement drew mixed reactions (some applauding or criticising) among education stakeholders. Using a descriptive survey design, this quantitative study specifically identified reasons for the applause or criticism; compared statistically the identified reasons; and the private and public education stakeholders on the announcement. The questionnaires were used to collect data from 500 stakeholders who were selected through a multi-stage sampling technique in Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Mbeya, and Dodoma cities. The collected data were analysed using Descriptive Statistics and Independent t-tests. The findings indicate that, the applauding reasons include different study environments; no longer motivation for studying, improved understanding and restoring original logic of schooling. Other reasons are the announcement served no good purpose; the announcement marketed the schools; and it was not fair to compare schools using the British and NECTA systems. Contrarily, the criticism reasons are the Government escapism from under-investment in public schools; denying of information to education researchers; suppressing information and putting society in the dark; removing the incentives for students; cause unforeseen consequences; leader’s in-charge subjectivity/selfishness move and the Council ignores the foundational reason for the announcement. Furthermore, there is a very minimal statistically significant difference between the reasons for applauding (M=3.611, SD=.825) and the reasons for criticising (M=3.645, SD=.829) the announcement. The t-test results portrayed no statistically significant difference between the private and public education stakeholders on the announcement. Therefore, none is more powerful than the other between the applause and criticism of the announcement. The private and public education stakeholders should look for an alternative approach to improving results in the national examinations than depending on the announcement of the best schools and students.

Inclusive Assessment in Tanzania: A Myth or Reality?

The National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA) was established in 1973, following the withdrawal of Tanzania from the East African Examinations Council in 1971. Since then, NECTA has been coordinating and managing national examinations at primary and secondary school levels. It also coordinates and manages teacher college examinations. With such a huge pool of customers, NECTA has been serving learners with diverse learning needs, including learners with disabilities. This requires NECTA to find ways to accommodate those learners. This paper discusses inclusive assessment, an approach to assessment which ensures that assessment policies, procedures, and practices support and enhance the inclusion of all learners, including those with special needs. The paper intends to establish whether inclusive assessment in the Tanzanian context is a myth or a reality. This qualitative study mainly collected data through documentary reviews and individual interviews. The findings suggest mixed feelings; in some areas, NECTA performs well. However, there are a lot of gaps to be filled by the government, NECTA and other stakeholders to ensure inclusive assessment is implemented to the fullest.

Evaluation of Item Bias Using Differential Item Functioning (DIF) Technique in NECO Conducted Economics Examination in Taraba State, Nigeria

Differential item functioning is an approach that is widely used to find out items that are bias. This study investigated items that are bias using differential item functioning approach in relation to gender, school ownership (private and public schools) and school location (urban and rural schools) using National Examinations Council (NECO) Economics questions for June/July 2022/2022. The research design employed in this study was exposit facto research design. The study sample comprised students in Taraba State, Nigeria. One Hundred (100) students were used for study. And the test contains 60 items which was administered to the students. Logistic regression was used to analysis the data. The research findings showed that out of sixty items in NECO Economics questions 11 items were biased in relation to gender, 7 items were biased in relation to school ownership and 9 items in relation to school location. The implication of these findings is that NECO economics examinations questions have presences of differential item functioning (DIF). From the result of the findings, it was then recommended that test experts and developers should explore the use of DIF approach to detect biased items.

An Assessment of the Appropriateness of Kenyan Sign Language Examination for Hearing Students

Kenyan Sign Language is a vital language for the Deaf community in Kenya and plays a pivotal role in their communication and education. This study investigates the appropriateness of including hearing students in the Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) examination, originally designed and adapted for deaf students. The research employed a qualitative approach, exploratory design and drawn upon the foundation of Critical Pedagogy. Purposive sampling was used to select seven(7) participants who are teachers of KSL and have experience in teaching both the hearing and deaf learners. Data was collected through interviews and analyzed thematically. The study findings underscore the need for a comprehensive reassessment of the KSL examination, considering the linguistic diversity and cognitive abilities of both deaf and hearing learners. The suggested strategies aim to create a more inclusive and equitable assessment system that respects the unique needs of each group, fostering a fair and accurate evaluation of their proficiency in Kenyan Sign Language. The researcher firmly recommends the exclusion of regular learners from KSL, KCSE examinations administered by the Kenya National Examination Council. Citing the tailored nature of the current 8-4-4 system’s Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) curriculum and exams for deaf students, the proposal emphasizes that regular students desiring to acquire KSL skills could opt for extracurricular KSL club participation.

ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENTIAL ITEM FUNCTIONING OF NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST ITEMS IN SOUTH EAST, NIGERIA

The study examined the differential item functioning of National Examinations Council (NECO) Agricultural Science multiple choice test items (2015-2017) in South East Zone. The study adopted descriptive survey research design and ex-Post-Facto research design. Two null hypotheses were formulated and test in the study. The population of the study consisted of 10, 194 Agricultural Science students. Sample size of 728 Agricultural Science Senior Secondary School students (SSS III) were proportionately drawn from the 72 selected secondary schools that constituted the sample size of the study. A multi-stage sampling technique was used for the study. The instrument used for data collection was NECO paper III questions constructed in 2015-2017.The instrument was re-validated by experts in Educational Measurement and Evaluation and Agricultural Extension Education. The data obtained was analysed using Kuder Richardson Formular 20 with reliability indices of 0.76. Data obtained for the study were analyzed using the Scheuneman modified Chi-square statistic to analyze all the research questions and chi-square statistic was employed in testing the null hypotheses. Results showed that that Agricultural Science multiple-choice test items used in NECO 2015-2017, contain test items that significantlyfunctioned differentially for testees on the basis of gender and that there was no significant difference between male and female students on the percentage of items which functioned differentially in the 2015-2017 NECO Agricultural Science multiple choice test examination. It was thus recommended among others that test experts and developers should consider the use of Scheuneman modified chi-square in determining differential item functioning.

Teaching of English Language Expressive Skills and Communicative Competence. A comparative Study of Secondary Schools in Nairobi City County, Kenya.

Language is important for communication to take place. In order for different countries in the world to communicate, there is a need for a common language. One of the internationally accepted languages of communication is English. Thus, the government of Kenya has come up with policies that ensure that at the end of secondary school, students are able to communicate competitively using the English language. However, there has been a worrying concern from both employers and educationists that the employees and graduates, respectively, have poor English language skills. The aim of this study was to establish the existing gaps between stated government policies on the teaching of English in secondary schools in Kenya on one hand and on the other the actual school practices during the implementation of these policies. This study was based on structural functionalism theory by Durkheim. It adopteddescriptive research design which was carried out in public secondary schools in Nairobi County. The study had a target population of 480 from 60 Schools which included: the heads of English department and teachers of English. The study employed purposive sampling where the schools’ Heads of English Department (HODs) and teachers of English were purposively sampled into 62 respondents composed of 8 HODs and 56 teachers. Questionnaires and observation checklists were used to collect data. To assess the validity of instruments, the results of the pilot study conducted were analyzed and used to modify and remove ambiguous items on the instruments used in the study. Its reliability was established using the test-retest method. Data was analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The qualitative data was grouped into different categories depending on the responses given by the respondents. Those categories helped in establishing themes. Through the use of the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) program, quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics percentages, frequencies, and tables where appropriate. The Key finding in this study was that all the government policies on teaching of English were not being fully implemented as required. The study recommended: that teachers of English access regular professional development programs to enhance their teaching and acquire skills to enable them overcome some of the challenges they were facing during teaching; The Kenya National Examination council (KNEC) to come up with an oral exam and a listening exam to help students achieve communication competence in English.

Influence of Teachers’ Preparedness on English Curriculum Implementation in Kenyan Schools

The Government of Kenya (GoK) touts teacher-preparedness as a critical factor that shows the equipping of a professional teacher for quality performance and satisfactory learner performance in national examinations. Despite the efforts by the GoK, there is a worrying trend of students completing school with reading and writing difficulties. The Kenya National Examinations Council (2020) contends students’ poor performance in English for the past 5 years, falling short of the average mean of 50%. Descriptive research design was used. A sample of 44 principals, 88 teachers and 345 form three students across 50 public secondary schools in Kakamega North, were targeted. A questionnaire, interview schedule, classroom practice observation schedule, and focus group discussion guide were used to collect data. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically whereas quantitative data was presented through tables, percentages and frequencies. Chi-square test was performed to test hypothesis. Response rate was 79.5%. The findings indicated that majority (97.1%) of the teachers participated in coursebooks and other revision textbook in-service courses as per the changing trends in teaching of English whereas ICT workshops had low percentages, a gap pointing on teacher level of preparedness. The findings from principals indicated, teachers of English sometimes declined to take up ICT in-service trainings for fear of additional responsibilities in school. Findings from FGDs show, teachers were rated average by most students in terms of preparedness in material use in classrooms. On determining the extent to which teacher level of preparedness influence implementation of English curriculum in school, teachers’ opinions had a Mean of 4.0000; Standard deviation of 3.08338; and Skewness of .397, indicating teacher level of preparedness has a high and strong positive influence on implementation of English curriculum in school if well checked and applied. The study established a significant relationship between teacher level of preparedness and implementation of English curriculum (p=0.007<0.05). Findings concur with KNEC (2020), contending students’ poor performance in English as unsatisfying.

Intra and Inter-Local Item Dependence of Mathematics Items

Local Item Dependence (LID) is a desecration of Local Item Independence (LII) which can lead to overestimating or underestimating a candidate’s ability in mathematics items and create validity problems. The study investigated the intra and inter-LID of mathematics items. The study made use of ex-post facto research. The population encompassed all 26,086 Senior Secondary School Students three (SSS 3) in Osun State, Nigeria, and 14,936 SSS 3 students were randomly picked as the sample. National Examinations Council (NECO) mathematics items from June/July 2017 served as the research instrument. The calibrated data were subjected to Yen Q3 statistic. Using a multidimensional three-parameter logistic model, the Yen Q3 statistic is the residual correlation of the items calibrated by Jmetrik software. Results revealed that intra-LID was spotted between Item 8 and Item 7, Item 47 and Item 18, Item 28 and Item 21, Item 47 and Item 29, Item 39 and Item 38, Item 60 and Item 47, Item 52 and Item 51, Item 59 and Item 58 with a Q3 index greater than 0.2 rule of thumb. Similarly, inter-LID revealed bundles 3, 6, 7, 13, and 15 with a Yen Q3 index greater than 0.2. The study concluded that intra and inter-LID was discovered in the NECO mathematics item. It was recommended that NECO should consider intra and inter-LID to ensure more credible questions.

Extensiveness of Teachers’ Use of the 2021 National Examinations Council of Tanzania Guidelines in Ensuring Validity of Tests in Public Secondary Schools in Ukerewe District, Tanzania

Extensiveness of Teachers’ Use of the 2021 National Examinations Council of Tanzania Guidelines in Ensuring Validity of Tests in Public Secondary Schools in Ukerewe District, Tanzania

Academic Performance in NECO English Language and Biology in a Selected Secondary School in Surulere Local Government, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria

National Examination Council is the final qualifying examinations that must be taken by Senior Secondary School Students at the end of their secondary school education. Success in the examinations is mandatory as it provide the basic prerequisite and qualification to gain admission into institution of higher learning. The main objective of this study is to analyze the performances of students of a selected Senior Secondary School in Surulere local government area of Oyo State, Nigeria in two subjects which are Biology and English Language. The study analyzes the result for the period of eight (8) years. The total numbers of enrolment for the two subjects within the year 2014-2021 were gathered from the school record with the consent of the school authority. Also the NECO results were retrieved for the period of eight years and analyzed using Pearson product Correlation Coefficient. It was discovered that there was a significant positive relationship between the student’s performances in NECO Biology and NECO English Language. The average performance in Biology at credit level was 79.04% while in English language it was 78.99%. The study therefore recommends adequate supply of teaching and learning materials to the schools, employment of more qualified Biology and English language teachers, adequate and seasonal release of grants to the schools for seminars and workshop while the teachers should be ready to discharge their duties as required by their professions.

Assessing Challenges Facing Implementation of Information Security Critical Success Factors: A Case of National Examination Council, Tanzania

Aim of this study was to assess challenges facing implementation of information security critical success factors. The study employed quantitative research approach and survey research design where case study design was used. A sample of 79 respondents derived from the population sample of 372 were used by using Slovin’s formula sampling technique, 86% of respondents questionnaire filled effectively were used. Descriptive data analysis was used to analyze variables based on research questions while, statistical tables and figures were used in data presentation. Results of this study indicate that, there are challenges in implementation of information security critical success factors such as security training program, security policy, risk assessment, regular system update, system auditing and committed of top management. The study found reasons for challenges of implementation from respondent views as availability of limited resources, weak financial support from top management, lack of understanding of needed technology from information technology professionals; poor security awareness program for top management who may think that information security is the issue of information technology department only and not the whole organization. It is therefore concluded that organization should identify their specific information security critical success factors to enhance useful of organization limited resource, without investing in generalization and give solutions based on risk priority, in order to make organization secure also utilization of information security critical success factors holds significant importance in ensuring security of an organization's data. It is crucial to address and eliminate any challenges that are within the scope of affordability or manageability.

Relationship between job stress and staff performance in National Examination Council, Ilorin, Kwara State

This study investigated the relationship between job stress and staff performance in National Examination Council, Ilorin Kwara State. The data collected from the respondents were statically analyzed with both descriptive and inferential statistics. Frequency counts, tabulations, percentage, mean, standard deviation and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) statistics were used to test the research hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Descriptive survey design was adopted, employing questionnaire as an instrument for data collection through survey monkey. The research was carried out in National Examination Council (NECO), Ilorin Kwara State. The population of the study was the 96 NECO staff in Ilorin office. This resulted to 96 staff were sampled across all the 24 units. The researcher designed structured questionnaires titled: “Job Stress Assessment Questionnaire” (JSAQ) and “Staff Job Performance Assessment Questionnaire” (SJPAQ) were used to elicit information from the 96 respondents. The reliability measurement of the instruments was carried out through test re-test method. The results of the analysis in the research hypotheses revealed that; there was a significant relationship between level of stress and staff job performance at the National Examinations Council, Ilorin. The finding on the hypothesis (Ho2) which was rejected and the findings shows that there was a significant relationship between strategies for managing stress and staff job performance at the National Examinations Council, Ilorin. Based on the hypothesis on significant relationship between consequential effects of stress and staff job performance at the National Examinations Council, Ilorin, it was discovered that a significant relationship existed between consequential effects of stress and staff job performance at the National Examinations Council, Ilorin. The following were therefore; the organization should develop stress coping strategies in order to enhance staff job performance. Workshop and seminars should be organized for staff of National Examinations Councils on stress management techniques. This will enable the staff to put in their best in the performance of their job. The organization should identify those factors that are responsible for stress and devise means of reducing them to the barest minimum in order to enhance high productivity among staff. Specialization should be given prominence in the distribution of works to staff so that tasks assigned to them can be easily completed thereby reducing stress that may arise from job performance.