The Imo State Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has announced new policies aimed at regulating examination registration and school admissions across the state, with strict warnings to schools to comply or face sanctions.

In a directive released on March 29, 2026, the Ministry stated that beginning from the 2026/2027 academic session, only students with valid Imo State Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results will be eligible for admission into Senior Secondary School One (SSS1) in both public and private schools. No institution will be exempt from this requirement.

The Ministry further clarified that the National Examinations Council BECE remains optional but will no longer be accepted as a requirement for SSS1 admission within Imo State. Parents will retain the right to decide whether their children sit for the examination, while school authorities are prohibited from making such decisions on their behalf.

Private schools have been strongly warned against violating these rules. Any institution found admitting students into SSS1 without valid Imo BECE results risks immediate withdrawal of its operating license.

For entry into Junior Secondary School One (JSS1), admissions must strictly be based on the Imo State Common Entrance Examination results, alongside official placement cards issued by the Examinations Development Center (EDC). Private primary schools have also been directed to ensure that all eligible pupils are registered for the Common Entrance Examination, with failure to comply attracting penalties, including license revocation.

The Ministry added that private secondary schools admitting students without valid Common Entrance results or placement documentation will face immediate closure.

As part of efforts to modernize the education system, the Ministry revealed plans to digitize examination records. Results for BECE and UBEAT from 2020 to 2025 will soon be accessible online through the Ministry’s official portal, making it easier for students and schools to verify academic records.

In addition, all examination registration payments are now to be made digitally via the Ministry’s platform. The approved registration fee for NECO examinations in private schools has been fixed at forty thousand naira, with strict penalties for any school found charging above the official rate.

Looking ahead, the Ministry also announced that all secondary schools in the state will undergo a re-accreditation exercise starting from September 2026. The process will apply to both public and private institutions, with each school required to pay a fee of one hundred thousand naira, renewable every five years.

The Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education emphasized the government’s commitment to improving standards, ensuring transparency, and enforcing compliance across the education sector. Stakeholders, including school owners, parents, and students, have been urged to strictly adhere to the new regulations.