Kogi State Government, in line with its free education policy under Governor Yahaya Bello, has released the sum of one hundred and fifteen million naira (N115,000,000) to cover the cost of Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) registration fees for 15,033 students in public schools across the state.
The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Lokoja, on Tuesday.
He said the gesture is a further demonstration of the commitment of Governor Yahaya Bello to giving all Kogi children free access to education.
According to the Commissioner, the action is a follow up to the earlier payment of about N497 million to West African Examination Council (WAEC) to ensure no student in Kogi public schools is made to pay a dime before writing any internal or external examination.
“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,” he said.
All the students in public secondary schools across the State will be covered by the policy.
The State Government under the leadership of Governor Yahaya 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, Mr Adejoh Philip, thanked the Governor for the gesture, saying he will be remembered for laying a solid foundation for the renaissance of education in the state.
“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 same. He has invested so much in the education of our children,” he said.
