The Kogi State Government, in line with its free education policy under Governor Yahaya Bello, has released N115 million to cover the cost of the registration fees for 15,033 students in public schools across the State for the Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examination organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemmy Jones, disclosed this on Tuesday.
Jones, who briefed newsmen in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, said the gesture is a further demonstration of the commitment of Governor Bello to giving all Kogi State children free access to education.
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According to the Commissioner, the action is a follow up to the earlier payment of about N497 million to the West African Examination Council to ensure that no student in Kogi State public schools is made to pay a dime before writing any internal or external examination.
He said: “I am pleased to announce to parents of Kogi students in public schools that they do not need to bother themselves about paying for their children’s JAMB registration fees as the Governor has already released funds for that purpose.
“This happening a few weeks after the State Government paid hundreds of millions of Naira to WAEC for the registration of thousands of students in public schools is a further demonstration of the determination of the Governor to ensure no Kogi student is deprived of the chance to be educated on account of poverty.
“Having surpassed the benchmark of UNESCO on education budgetary allocation, Kogi has continued to be a beautiful commentary on education for all.”
kogistate.gov.ng has also reported that all the students in public secondary schools across the state will be covered by the policy.
The State Government under the leadership of Governor Bello has strengthened education in the state with better education infrastructure, employment of qualified teachers, broadening technical education and making education free for all.
A parent, Adejoh Philip, thanked Bello for the gesture, saying he will be remembered for laying a solid foundation for the renaissance of education in the state.
Philip said: “After seeing how beautiful the GYB Model Science Secondary School, Adankolo is, I withdrew my child from a private school and took him to the school.
“Many parents are doing the same.
“He has invested so much in the education of our children.”
