Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, has approved N600 million to cover the 2024/2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) fees for 18,734 students in public secondary schools across the state. The announcement was made by the State Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, during a press briefing held on Tuesday in Lokoja.
Jones highlighted that this funding aligns with the “Free Examination Fee for Pupils in Public Schools Law” enacted in 2023, which mandates the state to cover all internal and external exam fees for students in public primary and secondary schools. “With this legislation, the government has taken responsibility for exam fees in public schools, lessening the financial burden on parents and ensuring education accessibility,” he stated.
Jones also noted the significant increase in enrollment, as evidenced by the 3,700-student rise from last year’s count of 15,033 students funded by the state. He attributed this increase to the policy, which encourages parents to enroll their children in public schools and supports the goal of reducing the rate of out-of-school children in the state.
Governor Ododo’s decision continues the educational policies initiated by his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, who laid the foundation for government-subsidized education in Kogi. The commissioner extended his gratitude to school principals who facilitated this program’s success and cautioned against any misconduct, warning of strict consequences.
In addition to covering WASSCE fees, the state government has committed to funding other examination fees, including those for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), First School Leaving Certificate, and Basic Examination School Certificate.