Moved by the unrelenting passion of Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to the education sector, the Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Wemi Jones says the Governor is the right man to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari upon the completion of his tenure come 2023.
This the Commissioner said was as a result of the increment of the State budgetary allocation from 20% in 2021 to 30% in 2022 for the education sector which according to him is first of its kind in the history of the state and country in general.
Mr. Jone while speaking with newsmen shortly after the Governor presented the 2022 budget estimate of over N145bn to the State House of Assembly on Thursday said “education in our state is going to be a tool for measuring the seriousness of Kogi State to educational advancement going forward. The figures as stated by His Excellency indicate that the capital expenditure of the budget is a whooping 55 billion. Thirty percent of that is 16.7 billion Naira if we are going to have that fund on education that will mean that the Year 2022 will witness what has never been witnessed before.”
According to him, the increment is the second since the administration of Governor Bello assumed Office, describing the move as a step in the right direction as the Federal Government only allocated 5% to the Education sector in the next fiscal year.
Mr. Jones explained that the Governor by the act has demonstrated that he has the needed capacity that education need to thrive.
The Commissioner while giving a breakdown of the implementation of the 2021 Budget for Education sector, said four GYB Model Primary Schools are currently under construction across the three Senatorial Districts of the State, saying same will be replicated in the entire 21 LGAs.
According to the Commissioner, the state has made remarkable progress in its West African Senior Certificate Examination by moving from 28 Pass rate in 2019 to 14 in 2020.
He also noted that in the next fiscal year, plans are on to engage more teachers in public schools across the State.
“The Ministry has done a needed assessment and the gap of teachers that will require has been identified. The process of recruitment of staff particularly teaching staff for our secondary school is already on and that has been well catered for in the 2022 budget which was presented by His Excellency the Governor”
Mr. Jones further maintained that the government is also putting measures in place to boost the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) towards Producing students that will not depend on white collar jobs.
“We are going to enhance and solidify our base in STEM. STEM is Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics.
“Now, because of our focus on enhancing STEM education, we are going to be very deliberate and conscious in the calibre and quality of the qualification of teachers who are going to bring their best and there is a style that we are going to use that will be very beneficial to the system.”
On the future of CUSTECH Osara, Mr. Jones noted that the Governor is working to build an enduring legacy for the future generations by raising experts that will explore the abundant resources in the State.
