
By Stephen Adeleye
The Kogi State Government has disclosed its intention to institutionalize the payment of external and internal examination fees, making it a lasting policy for subsequent administrations in the state. Mr. Wemi Jones, the Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, shared this information during a meeting of the National Executive Committee of the North Central branch of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) in Lokoja.
The decision to implement free education for students from primary to secondary school, announced by the Kogi Government in November 2023, includes a key provision for covering internal and external examination fees for students. The proposed law, once passed and assented, will mandate the Kogi Government to bear both internal and external examination costs for students in public schools within the state.
Expressing gratitude to ANCOPSS for its collaboration in executing the state government’s education policies, Jones highlighted the pivotal role played by Governor Yahaya Bello. Describing the governor as a transformative force, Jones credited Bello as a catalyst for the positive changes in Kogi’s education sector.
Jones emphasized the government’s commitment to producing globally competitive students across various fields. He outlined the establishment of Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) in Osara and Kogi State University (KSU) in Kabba, with a focus on science and technology education. These institutions, he explained, aim to provide Kogi students with access to university education and leverage the state’s abundant natural resources through a concentration on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.
The ongoing construction of GYB Model Science Secondary Schools throughout the state is part of the government’s strategy to prepare students for future challenges, Jones added.
In response, Mr. Christopher Ogiri, the North Central Chairman of ANCOPSS, commended the Kogi State Government for its substantial achievements in education, particularly in secondary and tertiary institutions. As an advisory body, ANCOPSS pledged to continue providing guidance on the optimal management of secondary education as a vital link between primary and tertiary education.
Mallam Suberu Omanayi, the state President of ANCOPSS, extended congratulations to the government for its accomplishments in education. Omanayi specifically commended Commissioner Wemi Jones for his unwavering dedication and efforts in transforming and restoring the state’s educational landscape.
(Source: News Agency of Nigeria – NAN)