After completing your primary school education and writing the common entrance exam, you are to receive what’s known as a First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) and a testimonial. However, a lot of people find themselves in situations where they no longer have these important documents.
Either they misplaced it or never wrote the exam due to financial constraints. But whatever the reason, not having these documents can create real problems for you later in life. In case you don’t know, below are some importance of the First Leaving School Certificate and Testimonial.
Importance of First School Leaving Certificate and Testimonial
- Job Employment
Employers often request for a primary school certificate from job seekers, especially in government positions, because it’s one of the foundational documents in their educational history. Government institutions and organisations particularly value these documents as they can be used to verify a job seeker’s age, educational background, and more.
- School Admission
Many higher institutions and some secondary schools might require you to present your primary school certificate or testimonials during the admission process. And if you don’t have it, how then will you be able to proceed further?
- Legal Evidence
The Primary School Leaving Certificate, or Testimonial, is an official proof that you completed primary education and wrote the required examinations.
However, if you are in the situation whereby you don’t have your First School Leaving Certificate or testimonials and are looking for how to get them, then you are certainly at the right place because in this article, I will be listing different ways on how to get these documents. But before we proceed, I would like to discuss what a primary school certificate and a testimonial mean, including their difference since some don’t know about it.
What Is A Primary School Certificate?
A Primary School Certificate, also known as a First School Leaving Certificate, is an official document awarded after completing the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) conducted by the National Examinations Council, which certifies that a student has completed his or her primary school education.
The National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) determines a pupil’s eligibility to enter JSS 1, while the certificate marks the successful completion of primary education.
What Is A Primary School Testimonial?
A testimonial is a document different from the First School Leaving Certificate. This testimonial is a comprehensive summary of a pupil’s primary school years. It includes details about a pupil’s academic performance, behaviour, and achievements during his/her primary school years.
Is There a Difference Between Primary School Certificate And Testimonial?
Yes! From what was explained earlier, you can see that there is a big difference between a primary school certificate and a testimonial. However, it’s crucial to note that a certificate is more acceptable than a testimonial in most institutions. Many institutions specifically require the certificate and may not accept a testimonial as a substitute.
This is due to the fact that a testimonial doesn’t contain much necessary information compared to the primary school certificate, which most institutions or employees find invalid.
How To Get Your Primary School Certificate And/Or Testimonial
There are several ways in which you can get your primary school certificate and testimonial. They include;
1. Visit The School Where You Wrote Your Common Entrance Examination
This is often the most straightforward approach. All you have to do is just visit the school where you wrote your common entrance examination and explain your situation to them, telling them that you need their help in getting your certificate or testimonial. If it’s a certificate, they will help you go to the Ministry of Education and collect it.
And if it’s testimonial, they can issue you that immediately, but note that you might be asked to pay a fee, and the fee depends on the school. However, this process will be much easier if it’s a private school rather than a public school, but that doesn’t mean collecting it from a public school is impossible.
Note that if you attended a school but wrote your common entrance exam at another, that school where you wrote your common entrance exam is where you will need to visit.
2. Approach Your State’s Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Education maintains the records of all pupils who wrote the common entrance examination. All you have to do is visit the one in the state where you wrote your common entrance examination, explain the situation to them, and they will take it up from there. But before you go, please take note of the following.
- You might be asked to provide some documents, so make sure you take as many of your documents as possible.
- They might ask you for a “written note” from your primary school. If eventually they do, then you have to go back to the present headmaster/headmistress of the school where you wrote your NCEE exam to get it.
- Be prepared to pay necessary fees.
3. Visit Any Local Government (LG) Office Close To You
Local government offices are known for providing people with official documents and more. Also, they might also be of help in document retrieval, and if not, they know the right step to take in retrieving those documents. So locate anyone close by and make enquiries.
4. Rewrite The Examination
If all else fails, you can always retake the exam. All you have to do is to wait for the next registration period, sit for the examination, then after you will be issued a new certificate and possibly a testimonial. However, note that if you are issued the certificate, the year on the certificate will be the current year in which you rewrote the exam.
If you are using it for employment, some organizations might not accept it looking at the year while some would. So make proper research before taking this step.
What If My Primary School Doesn’t Exist Anymore?
If you find yourself in the situation whereby the primary school where you did your common entrance examination no longer exists, visiting your state’s ministry of education would be advisable, as they are the only ones who can actually help in this kind of situation.
Just explain this to them, as they have procedures for such cases. Or better still, you can rewrite the exam instead to get a new certificate and testimonial as explained earlier.
Can A School Issue Me First Leaving School Certificate/Testimonial Without Me Writing The Exam?
Some might be thinking some schools, especially private schools, might be able to issue them the certificate without them writing the exam, but it’s not possible. You can’t get the certificate without writing the common entrance examination. Even if a school is to issue you a document, it would be a testimonial instead, which is almost impossible, especially if you never attended the school.
Legitimate certificates like this cannot be issued without writing the examination. Attempting to obtain a certificate through improper channels could have serious consequences and might lead to legal issues for you.
Can I Get My First School-Leaving Certificate and Testimonial Online?
No, it’s not possible. Unlike some modern educational certificates, First School Leaving Certificates and Testimonials cannot be obtained online. The process requires in-person verification and collection; you have to be there.
Conclusion
Obtaining your Primary School Certificate or testimonial can be challenging, especially if years have passed, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible. All you have to do is follow any of the steps listed in this article, and you will be able to get yours in no time. Also, don’t be discouraged if your first attempt doesn’t work; just try the other ways mentioned in this article.
