The Kogi State Government has concluded plans to propose a law that would make payment of External and Internal Examinations’ fees free, as a policy for subsequent administrations in the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, disclosed this during a courtesy of the National Executive Committee of North Central of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) in Lokoja.
The Kogi Government had in November 2023, pronounced free education for students from Primary to Secondary School.
An integral part of the policy is the payment of Internal and external exams for students by the state government.
Jones said that the law when passed and assented to, would make it mandatory for Kogi Government to pay both internal and external examinations’ fees for students in public schools in the state.
He thanked the state’s ANCOPSS for their cooperation towards the execution of the state government policies aimed at delivering quality education to the citizens of the state.
Jones noted that all the successes recorded in education sector wouldn’t have been possible without the commitment of Gov. Yahaya Bello, describing him as a messiah sent by God to revive education in Kogi.
He stressed that education being a catalyst for societal development has been given the attention it deserved by the governor
The commissioner emphasised that the state government’s plan was to raise globally competitive students in all field of endeavors.
He explained that the establishment of Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, and Kogi State University KSU) Kabba, was to train students in science and technology and to provide opportunities to Kogi students to have access to university education.
“To benefit from the natural resources that abound in the state, Government is focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.
“The GYB Model, Science, Secondary Schools being built across the state were meant to train students to face challenges ahead,” he said.
Speaking, the North Central Chairman of ANCOPSS Mr Christopher Ogiri, commended Kogi government its giant strides in education especially in secondary and tertiary school education.
“The establishment of GYB Model Science Secondary Schools across the state is second to none in the country.
“The ANCOPSS as an advisory body will continue to advise the government on the how best to run secondary education which is a bridge between Primary and Tertiary Education,” Ogiri said.
On his part, the state’s President of ANCOPSS, Mall. Suberu Omanayi, congratulated the state government for the successes recorded in education.
Omanayi commended the commissioner for his doggedness and commitment in transforming and restoring the glory of education in the state.
