Home » NECO Syllabus » If you’re preparing for the NECO Civic Education exam, you’re in the right place. Here’s the breakdown on what you’ll be learning and why it matters.
The main goal of this syllabus is to help you become a better citizen and to also help you in preparing for your exam. You’ll be studying how our society works and your role in it. You’ll find out why citizenship is more than just having a passport, how governments are structured, and what they’re supposed to do for us.
You’ll also look at some of the big issues facing our communities today. From human rights to environmental challenges, there’s a lot to cover. By understanding your rights and duties, you’ll be better equipped to make a difference, both locally and globally.
Let’s talk about how your NECO Civic Education exam is structured. This guide is here to help you understand what you need to do to earn those marks.
The NECO Civic Education exam comprises two papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2. Both papers are part of the same exam session, so you’ll complete them one after the other in a sitting.
Paper 1: Multiple Choice
This part of the exam is a 1-hour multiple-choice test with 50 questions that covers the entire syllabus. It’s worth 40 marks in total. Each question has a set of options, and you just need to pick the correct one. To do well here, make sure you’ve reviewed all the key concepts in the syllabus and practiced with past questions. Don’t rush, take your time and think through each question before selecting your answer.
Paper 2: Essay Questions
Paper 2 is a 2-hour essay test that has three sections: A, B, and C. Each section has three questions, and you need to answer four questions in total, choosing at least one from each section. This paper is worth 60 marks.
Here’s a breakdown of what each section encompasses:
Section A is about national ethics, discipline, rights, and obligations. Here, you’ll write about topics like citizenship, ethics, and the responsibilities we have towards each other and the government.
Section B focuses on emerging issues in society. This could include things like environmental concerns, social justice, or technology’s impact on society.
Section C covers governmental systems and processes. You’ll talk about how the government works, different branches of government, and interact interact.
| CIVIC EDUCATION | ||
| SN | TOPIC | OBJECTIVES |
| 1 | Values | 1.1 definition, 1.2 types, 1.3 importance of values to the society |
| 2 | Citizenship and Nationalism | 2.1 meaning of citizenship 2.2 meaning of citizenship education 2.3 goals of citizenship education 2.4 duties and obligations of citizens 2.5 meaning of nationalism 2.6 ways of promoting national consciousness, integrity and unity in the society 2.7 the nationalistic roles of individual and groups 2.8 identification of local and world civic problems |
| 3 | Human Rights | 3.1 meaning of human rights 3.2 categories of human rights 3.3 characteristics of human rights 3.4 meaning and historical background of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) 3.5 meaning and identification of the seven core freedoms of UDHR 3.6 importance of UDHR 3.7 roles of individual, groups and government in UDHR 3.8 limitations to the exercise of human rights |
| 4 | Law and Order | 4.1 definition of Law and Order 4.2 features of Law and Order 4.3 importance of Law and Order in the society 4.4 meaning of constituted authority 4.5 types of constituted authority 4.6 importance and roles of constituted authority |
| 5 | Responsible Parenthood | 5.1 meaning of responsible parenthood 5.2 roles of responsible parents; 5.3 importance of responsible parenthood in national development |
| 6 | Traffic Regulations | 6.1 meaning of traffic regulations 6.2 traffic regulation and its importance in the society 6.3 the roles of the individual and government in maintaining traffic regulations |
| 7 | Interpersonal Relationships | 7.1 meaning of interpersonal relationships 7.2 types of interpersonal relationships 7.3 skills that promotes interpersonal relationships 7.4 meaning of inter communal relationships 7.5 importance of inter communal relationships 7.6 meaning of inter-communal conflicts 7.7 skills for resolving inter-communal conflicts |
| 8 | Cultism | 8.1 meaning and origin of cultism 8.2 different cult groups in Nigeria and their symbols 8.3 reasons for cultism 8.4 consequences of cultism 8.5 ways of preventing cultism in the society |
| 9 | Drugs and Drug Abuse | 9.1 meaning of drug abuse 9.2 drugs that can be abused 9.3 how drugs are abused 9.4 symptoms of drug abuse 9.5 behaviours of drug addicts 9.6 ways of preventing drug abuse 9.7 government agencies working to prevent drug abuse/trafficking and their activities 9.8 laws against drug abuse |
| 10 | Human Trafficking | 10.1 meaning of human trafficking 10.2 causes of human trafficking 10.3 effects and consequences of human trafficking 10.4 efforts of government and individuals in stopping human trafficking |
| 11 | Hiv/Aids | 11.1 meaning of HIV/AIDS 11.2 causes of HIV/AIDS 11.3 symptoms and effects of HIV/AIDS 11.4 prevention of HIV/AIDS 11.5 stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS |
| 12 | Youth Empowerment | 12.1 meaning of youth empowerment 12.2 youth empowerment skills 12.3 importance and benefits of youth empowerment skills 12.4 efforts of government towards youth empowerment |
| 13 | Structure and Functions of Government | 13.1 meaning of government 13.2 structure/tiers of government 13.3 functions of government |
| 14 | Democracy, Rule of Law and National Development | 14.1 meaning, types, and features of democracy 14.2 importance of democracy 14.3 pillars of democracy 14.4 problems of democracy 14.5 meaning of rule of law 14.6 features of rule of law 14.7 importance of rule of law 14.8 problems of rule of law 14.9 meaning of national development 14.10 how democracy and Rule of law promote national development- good governance, employment creation and poverty alleviation etc |
| 15 | Political Apathy | 15.1 meaning of political apathy 15.2 causes of political apathy 15.3 consequences of political apathy 15.4 why leaders fail to protect the interests of their followers 15.5 how leaders can protect the interests of their followers 15.6 ways of discouraging political apathy |
| 16 | Civil Society and Popular Participation | 16.1 meaning of popular participation 16.2 types of popular participation 16.3 the need for popular participation in the society 16.4 traditional and modern modes of popular participation 16.5 achieving popular participation in politics 16.6 meaning of civil society 16.7 functions / need for civil society 16.8 qualities / characteristics of civil society; i.e. accountability, fairness, justice, equity etc. 16.9 problems of civil society; i.e. bribery and corruption, inadequate funding, overbearing influence of foreign donors etc |
| 17 | Public Service in Democracy | 17.1 meaning of public service 17.2 functions of public service 17.3 problems of public service 17.4 reasons for the shortcomings in the public service 17.5 ways of improving the public service |
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2. ADEBAYO, A Principles and Practice of Public Administration in Nigeria. Ibadan: Spectrum Books Ltd, 2000.
3. ANIFOWOSE, R. & F. ENEMUO (eds) Elements of Politics. Lagos: Sam Iroanusi Publications, 1999
4. APPADORAI A. The Substance of Politics, Eleventh Edition. Madras: Oxford University Press, 1975.
5. BANJI, K. Citizenship Education. Lagos: Dedun Educational Books, 1976.
6. FGN 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as Amended. Abuja: Federal Government Press, 2011.
7. LEAP AFRICA Rage for Change, a Guide for Young Nigerians who Desire to Make a Difference. Lagos: Leap Africa, 2008.
8. MENEKE, O.A. and NWEBO, I. Milestone Comprehensive Civic Education for Senior Secondary Schools, Books 1 & 2. Owerri: Milestone Publishers Limited, 2012.
9. NWAUBANI, O.O. Citizenship Education and Nigerian Culture. Lagos: T-Excel Publishers, 2000.
10. OGUNBAMERUN, O.A. Reading on Campus Secret Acts. Ile-Ife: O.A.U Press Ltd, 1997.
11. OKUNLOYE, R.W., et al Civic Education for Senior Secondary, Books 1, 2 & 3, UBE Edition. Lagos: Learn Africa PLC, 2011.
12. OLURODE, L. & O. SOYOMBO (eds) Readings in Campus Violence. Lagos: John West Publications Ltd, 12004.
13. ONI, E.O., et al Straight-Gate Civic Education for Senior Secondary Schools, Books 1 & 2. Ibadan: Straight-Gate Publishers Ltd, 2012.
14. OYEDIRAN, O., et al. Government For Senior Secondary Schools. Lagos: Longman Nig Ltd, 1990.
15. OYEDIRAN, O. Introduction to Political Science. Ibadan: Oyediran Consults International, 1998.
16. TANYA, R.H. HIV/AIDS: Hope amid Despair. Lagos: Megarona (West Africa) Ltd, 2005.
17. UKEGBU, M.N., et al. Basic Civic Education for Senior Secondary Schools, SS 2. Owerri: Maybiks Nigeria Publisher.
18. UNO Human Rights: the International Bill of Human Rights. New York: United Nations Organization, 1993.
This exam is a composite exam, which means there are two papers taken in one sitting. Paper 1 is a 1-hour multiple-choice test with 50 questions, while Paper 2 is a 2-hour essay-type test divided into three sections: A, B, and C. You’ll need to answer four questions in Paper 2, choosing at least one from each section. Together, the papers carry 100 marks.
The best way to prepare for Paper 1 is to review the entire syllabus and practice with past questions. Multiple-choice tests are about accuracy and speed, so make sure you understand the key concepts and terms. Take practice tests to get used to the format, and remember to read each question carefully before choosing your answer.
In Paper 2, you’ll find three sections with three questions each. Section A questions will be set on national ethics, discipline, rights, and obligations. Section B questions will come from the emerging issues in society, like environmental concerns or social justice. Section C is about governmental systems and processes. Your answers should be clear and structured, showing that you understand the topic and can explain it in detail.
It’s important to cover all the topics in the syllabus, but some areas are worth extra attention. Focus on the fundamentals of citizenship, rights and obligations, governmental structures, and emerging societal issues. These topics are mostly set in the exam. Make sure you understand them well.
Proper time management is among the skills you need to pass your exam. For Paper 1, allocate about a minute per question. If you’re stuck, move on and come back if you have time. For Paper 2, spend a few minutes planning each essay and about 30 minutes writing it. Try not to get too caught up on one question and keep your eye on the clock.
If you have a question about the instructions or need clarification, don’t ask your exam mate as that can implicate you. You can raise your hand to get the attention of an invigilator (exam supervisor), they can’t help you with the content, but they can clarify the instructions. If you feel unwell, let them know immediately they’re there to help.
Break down your study sessions into manageable chunks and use the syllabus to guide your study topics. You can also practice with past questions and sample papers to get a feel for the exam format. Don’t just memorize the past questions as that won’t help you in understanding the concepts so you can apply them in different scenarios when the questions are asked in a different format.
