Plans to propose a law that would make payment of External and Internal Examination fees free as a policy for subsequent administrations in Kogi State has been concluded.
Semi Jones, the state’s commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, disclosed this when the National Executive Committee of North Central of All Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) visited him in his office in Lokoja on Friday.
The Kogi State 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 equally pointed out 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 commended 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, noting that all the successes recorded in the education sector wouldn’t have been possible without the commitment of the Governor Yahaya Bello as he described him 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, as he emphasised that the state government planned to raise globally competitive students in all fields of endeavour.
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 for Kogi students to have access to university education.
He said: “To benefit from the natural resources that abound in the state, the 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.”
Speaking, the North Central Chairman of ANCOPSS, Christopher Ogiri, commended Kogi government for its giant strides in education especially in secondary and tertiary school education.
He said: “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 how best to run secondary education which is a bridge between Primary and Tertiary Education.”
Also speaking, Suberu Omanayi, the state’s President congratulated the state government for the successes recorded in education.
Omanayi commended the commissioner for his doggedness and commitment to transforming and restoring the glory of education in the state.
