Kogi State Government will soon begin the refunds of school fees paid by secondary school students who registered for the 2015 West Africa Examination Council.
Hajia Ladi Mariam Ibrahim, Chairperson of the Committee on WAEC reconciliation set up by the Kogi State Government made the disclosure after visiting Anyigba, Okene and Kabba where she met with school principals of public and private secondary schools to receive documents relating to the payments made by students for this year’s WAEC examination.
Hajia Ladi described Capt Idris Wada administration as one that placed emphasis on education, said the verification ordered by the government was in the interest of education, the children and for the State.
Hajia Ladi described the verification exercise carried out as borne out of the need to ensure transparency in the payment of WAEC fees by government, said with the completion of the verification exercise, and the ongoing analysis of the documents presented by the Principals, the State Government will begin the process of making refunds to the students.
While the payment to assist parents pay WAEC fees, Hajia Ladi explained, no doubt encourage mass and quantitative education, the need for government to have value for money spent in the sector and the need for the assistance get to the desired beneficiary remains paramount.
Hajia Ladi described as worrisome the astronomical rise of the payment of WAEC fees from N150m in 2012 to N500m in 2015, said government is more concerned about sanitizing the education sector in the system rather than enriching some individuals at the expense of its students.
Hajia Ladi warned public school officials who are in the habit of conniving with private school owners to register their candidates for WAEC to desist forth with as such practice she explained is fraudulent and counterproductive.
With the completion of the visit, Hajia ladi said monies paid by the students will now be refunded, commended governor Idris Wada for setting up the community y which she noted was revealing and gave more insights into ways the state government can improve education and the payments of WAEC fees.
Also speaking, Chief Sylvester Onoja, Chairman TSC and member of the Committee appealed to principals to corporate with the Committee towards arriving at a solution to the rising cost of yearly WAEC fee, disclosing that they should allow their conscience, the love of the State and sustainable education which informed government reasons for paying the WAEC fee to guide their judgments and submission.
Similarly, other members of the verification committee spoke on the importance of the assignment and commended the principals for their cooperation towards nipping in the bud the rising cost of WAEC fees paid by the state government.
In their separate speeches, the ANCOPSS President in the East, Central and West Senatorial District and some other principals from the states present at the meeting commended the huge investment made in education made by the Kogi State Government, promised to submit documents and other information that will assist government in reaching a solution on the yearly astronomical rise in WAEC fees.
