The Rivers State Government on Thursday announced the scrapping of the First School Leaving Certificate, saying it would now issue the Basic Education Certificate.

The state commissioner for education, Prof. Kaniye Ebeku, said the issuance of the BEC was in line with the Federal Government’s 9-3-4 education policy.

Ebeku, who spoke at the official launch of the BEC in Port Harcourt on Thursday, said the state would now begin to issue the BEC to students upon completion of junior secondary education.

He also called on all principals of junior secondary schools, parents, guardians and the general public to be aware of the new policy.

Ebeku said with the development, employers would no longer be asking for FSLC but BEC.

The commissioner added that since 2006, Rivers State Government had not issued BEC to junior secondary students, noting that was now leading the way for other states to follow.

He said, “Today we are sending a message to the world that we will no longer issue the First School Leaving Certificate. Students must take the Basic Education Certificate Examinations to obtain BEC.

“The first certificate that will be issued to a student will now be BEC, after the students must have sat for the Basic Education Certificate Examinations at Basic Nine. There is no more first school leaving certificate. Students cannot proceed to senior secondary schools without the BEC.

“Since 2006, BEC has not been issued in Rivers State but it can be issued now on demand. Anyone claiming to have BEC from 2006 upwards is fake.

“The ministry is available to verify all certificates from 1960 till date. BEC cannot be forged. The certificate has some embossment that will make it difficult for fraudsters to replicate. Besides, the masters list is with the ministry. Any fraudster caught will be dealt with in accordance with the Nigerian laws.’’

The Chairman of Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board, Dr Wisdom Ade, said the development was a major milestone, describing the commissioner as a silent achiever.

“This is another milestone in the education sector of Rivers State. Other administrations abandoned it but Ebeku took the bull by the horns, “Ade stated.