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Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has approved the allocation of N542.416 million for covering the costs of the Common Entrance Examination, JAMB, and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for students in public schools throughout the State.
The Commissioner for Education, Mr. Wemi Jones, made this announcement while addressing reporters in Lokoja on Wednesday. The Commissioner said that the funding for external examinations aims to boost school enrollment and mitigate the issue of out-of-school children, which has been a significant concern in the education sector.
He elaborated that the payment for the Basic Certificate Examination includes 25,100 pupils in public schools, totalling N145 million, while the cost for the BECE examination caters to 30500 students who are set to take the JSS3 exams across 21 local government areas in the State, amounting to N215 million.
Mr. Wemi further indicated that the JAMB fee payment includes 18,734 students in SS3, which amounts to N181.719 million, adding that N661 million has been allocated for the WAEC payment and emphasised that the profiling process is ongoing to ensure that only eligible students benefit before the WAEC deadline.
He cautioned stakeholders and school principals against engaging in fraudulent activities, asserting that anyone found guilty will face consequences.
Former Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello enacted legislation for the free payment of all external and internal exams for students in public schools across the state.
