Most private secondary schools in Port Harcourt offer either the Nigerian national curriculum or an international one. Jephthah runs both at the same time, on the same campus, for the same students. That means a child sitting in JSS1 today can graduate with WAEC credits, a Cambridge IGCSE certificate, and an SAT score ready for American university applications, without ever changing schools.
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Exam pathways available
30+
Years as an exam centre
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Curricula offered
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Countries for graduates
When parents hear the words “Nigerian and international curriculum,” the question that usually follows is: Does the child do both at once, or do they choose? At Jephthah, the answer is both at once. The Nigerian national curriculum forms the academic backbone. Every student covers the subjects required by the Rivers State Ministry of Education and prepares for WAEC and NECO examinations. On top of that foundation, students also engage with the Cambridge IGCSE programme, and senior secondary students have access to American college entrance examinations, including the SAT, PSAT, and ACT.
This is not about overloading students. It is about opening doors that a single-curriculum school cannot open. A student from Jephthah can apply to a Nigerian university, a British university, or an American university using credentials earned at the same institution in Port Harcourt.
The foundation for all students. Covers the full syllabus set by the Federal Ministry of Education and Rivers State Ministry of Education, aligned to WAEC, NECO, and JAMB requirements.
All students, JSS1 to SS3
Jephthah is an approved Cambridge International Centre. JSS3 students sit the Cambridge Checkpoint Examination. SS3 students sit Cambridge IGCSE, globally recognised by universities in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and beyond.
JSS3 (Checkpoint) and SS3 (IGCSE)
Students in SS2 and SS3 have access to PSAT, SAT, ACT, and IELTS preparation and registration. Jephthah is a registered and secure examination centre for all of these. Strong SAT scores above 1400 qualify Nigerian students for merit-based scholarships at American universities.
SS2 and SS3 students
Jephthah is an approved centre for the Rivers State Junior School Certificate Examination (JSCE), compulsory for all JS3 students. This satisfies all requirements for progression within the Nigerian education system.
JSS3 students
Jephthah is an accredited and secure examination centre for eight external examinations. Students do not need to travel to a different location or register at another school to sit these exams. That matters for safety, preparation, and consistency of results.
West African Senior School Certificate Examination.
Compulsory for all SS3 (Grade 12) students. Accepted by every Nigerian university and widely recognized by universities in the UK, Canada, the USA, and across Africa. A minimum of five credits, including English and Mathematics, is required for Nigerian university admission through JAMB.
National Examinations Council Senior and Basic Education Certificate.
BECE is compulsory for JS3 students. SSCE is compulsory for SS3 students. All Nigerian universities fully accept NECO results and can be combined with WAEC results to satisfy admission credit requirements.
Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
Compulsory for all SS3 students seeking admission to Nigerian universities. Scores range from 0 to 400. Jephthah prepares students for UTME as a core part of the SS3 academic programme.
Rivers State Junior School Certificate Examination.
Jephthah is approved by the Rivers State Ministry of Education to administer this examination for all JS3 students at the end of the junior secondary cycle.
International General Certificate of Secondary Education, administered by Cambridge Assessment International Education.
Recognised by universities in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and most other higher education systems worldwide and taken at SS3 (Grade 12). Jephthah is a secure and approved Cambridge International Centre.
Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint Examination for JSS3 (Grade 9) students.
Provides internationally benchmarked results in English, Mathematics, and Science, and prepares students for the transition to IGCSE-level study.
Scholastic Assessment Test and Preliminary SAT, administered by the College Board.
SAT scores are required for admission to American colleges and universities. SAT scores above 1400 qualify students for merit-based scholarships at US institutions. Jephthah is a registered SAT and PSAT examination centre for SS2 and SS3 students.
American College Testing (ACT) and International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are both available at Jephthah for senior secondary students. IELTS scores are required for university admission in the UK, Canada, Australia, and Ireland. ACT is an alternative to the SAT for American university applications.
The curriculum at Jephthah spans core academic subjects, Christian education, sciences, humanities, vocational subjects, and languages. All subjects follow Nigerian national syllabus requirements and are taught through a Bible-based framework that we call our educational philosophy, grounded in 2 Timothy 3:16-17. The following subject areas are covered across the junior and senior secondary programmes.
| English Language | Mathematics | Physics |
| Chemistry | Biology | Further Mathematics |
| Christian Religious Studies | Economics | Government |
| History | Geography | Literature in English |
| Computer Science | French | Civic Education |
| Agricultural Science | Technical Drawing | Commerce |
Jephthah’s approach to teaching is shaped by what the school calls its Four Pillars: academic thinking (Wisdom), spiritual formation (Favour with God), physical and skill development (Stature), and social and emotional growth (Favour with Men). These pillars are drawn from Luke 2:52 and reflect the school’s conviction that education covers the whole person, not just exam performance.
In the classroom, this means teachers are expected to go beyond syllabus delivery. Bible-based learning is woven into academic content across all subjects. The school runs a structured academic year with termly assessments, parent-teacher engagement built into the calendar, and access to a dedicated result portal where parents can track academic progress.
The school has a staff of over 200, including subject specialists across every department. Class sizes are managed to allow teachers to give individual attention — a practical advantage of the boarding environment, where students and teachers share the same space and students do not leave when lessons end.
These are some of the questions the admissions team hears most often. They are answered here so parents can come prepared.
Yes. Jephthah Comprehensive Secondary School is an approved and secure Cambridge International Centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. SS3 (Grade 12) students sit the Cambridge IGCSE examination at the school. JSS3 (Grade 9) students also sit the Cambridge Checkpoint Examination on the same campus.
WAEC (WASSCE) is a West African regional examination accepted by all Nigerian universities and many institutions abroad. Cambridge IGCSE is a British international qualification recognized globally, including by universities in the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia. Jephthah offers both. Students graduate with both qualifications, giving them maximum flexibility for university applications in Nigeria and abroad.
Yes. Jephthah is a registered SAT and PSAT examination centre. SS2 and SS3 students can register and sit the SAT and PSAT at the school. The ACT is also available
Yes. Jephthah graduates have been admitted to universities in Nigeria, the UK, the USA, Canada, Ghana, Kenya, Ukraine, the Caribbean, and more. The school has active partnerships with foreign universities that regularly provide scholarships for qualifying graduates. Graduates leaving with both Cambridge IGCSE and strong SAT scores are competitive for merit-based scholarships at American institutions.
No. Jephthah's dual curriculum is structured so that students cover the Nigerian national syllabus in full, including WAEC, NECO, and JAMB preparation. The Cambridge programme is an additional layer, not a replacement. Students graduate prepared for both national and international examinations without compromising performance in either.
At the end of JS3 (Grade 9), students sit the NECO BECE, Rivers State JSCE, and Cambridge Checkpoint Examination. At the end of SS3 (Grade 12), students sit WASSCE (WAEC), NECO SSCE, and JAMB/UTME. Cambridge IGCSE, SAT, ACT, and IELTS are available and encouraged, but structured based on each student's university destination goals.
Yes. Jephthah Comprehensive Secondary School is approved by the Rivers State Ministry of Education to operate both Junior and Senior Secondary Schools. The school is also accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), headquartered in Colorado Springs, USA, making it one of a small number of ACSI-accredited schools in Nigeria.
Speak with our admissions team about available spaces, boarding options, and what the right fit looks like for your child.
