By Stephen Adeleye
Lokoja, Oct. 29, 2024
Gov. Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State, has approved over N600 million for the payment of 2024/2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for Senior Secondary (SS3) students in the State.
The State’s Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, at a press conference on Tuesday in Lokoja, said the fund would cover a total of 18,734 SS3 students in public schools in the state.
Jones noted that the WAEC fees payment was inline with the Law for Free Examination Registration Fees for Kogi State Students in Public Primary & Secondary Schools in Kogi State, signed former Governor Yahaya Bello.
The commissioner stressed that the law had made it mandatory for Government to pay for all Internal and External examinations for the pupils in public primary and secondary schools.
According to him, Governor Ododo being part of the last administration, is building on the solid foundation in education, laid by his predecessor, Alh. Yahaya Bello.
Jones said the payment of 2024/2025 WASSCE fees would be the second in the series for SS3 students in public schools in the state.
He stressed that the Kogi Government had since 2016 placed education as first on its priorities because of the need to reduce poverty and degradation in the society.
“The 30 per cent budgetary allocation to education has made it possible for the state to massively fund education which includes the payment of fees for the students.
“The aim of this is not just to lessen the burden of fees on the parents but also to reduce the out of school children in Kogi State.
“In 2023/2024, WAEC Registration for students in Kogi State, the state government enrolled over 15,000 students for the examination.
“In 2024/2025, the state is expecting to enrol 18,734 students for WAEC across the 21 local government areas of Kogi State,” he said.
Jones noted that the increase in number of students enrollment for 2024/2025 WASSCE than that of 2023/2024 from 15,000 to 18,734, was an indication that more students were abandoning private schools for public schools.
He restated the commitment of Gov. Ododo administration to drastically reducing the number of out-of-school children in the state to the barest minimum.
He noted that the 2024/2025 WAEC Registration would commence.on 30th Oct. 30, and advised principals and school heads to religiously follow the 2024/2025 floating of WASSCE as released by the State Ministry of Education.
Jones also noted that the state government has also been paying for NECO, JAMB, Common Entrance, Basic Six Examination, Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
The commissioner implored principals and school heads to cooperate with the ministry to have seamless registration for the benefit of our children and the growth of the state.
He, however warned that government would come down heavily on any school principal who tried to short change the system.
Jones added: “The event that happened in the last exercise where some principals tried to take advantage of the system to sabotage the good intention of the government will not be tolerated.
“Severe sanctions will be placed on anyone who tries to short change the system”.
End