Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Usman Ododo, has approved a significant N600 million to cover the 2024/2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) fees for 18,734 students across the state’s public secondary schools. This was announced by the Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, during a press briefing in Lokoja on Tuesday. The move aligns with the Free Examination Fee for Pupils in Public Schools Law, which was enacted by the state in 2023.
According to Jones, the law ensures that the government covers examination fees for public primary and secondary school students, both for internal and external exams. He commended Governor Ododo for sustaining the educational policies initiated by his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, and highlighted the governor’s commitment to supporting the educational sector. “This policy is designed to ease the financial burden on citizens and help address the challenge of out-of-school children,” Jones said.
The commissioner noted a significant increase in enrolment in public schools, with an additional 3,700 students registering this year, a rise attributed to parents moving their wards from private to public schools. He attributed this shift to the state’s policy of supporting examination fees, which has made education more accessible and affordable for many families.
Further emphasising the government’s educational commitment, Jones announced that the state will also cover JAMB and NABTEB fees for students, as well as the First School Leaving Certificate and Basic Examination School Certificate fees for pupils. He acknowledged the cooperation of school principals in facilitating last year’s initiative, while cautioning against any misconduct in the program’s implementation, promising strict sanctions for violators.
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