Kogi State Ministry of Education Warns Against Sabotage of Gov Ododo's Free Education Policy
By Tayo Onimisi Omodaiye, Okene
The Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Mr Wemi Jones has issued a stern warning to school principals and headmasters attempting to undermine Kogi State free education policy, reaffirming the state government commitments to providing quality education at no cost to all primary and secondary school children in the state.
The warning was contained in separate statements issued through the Special Adviser on Education to the governor of Kogi State, Hon. Abdullahi Abdulmalik during his meetings with stakeholders of Education in Kogi Central, East and West, following reports of some school administrators allegedly demanding fees for Basic Six/Common Entrance Examination and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) from students in public schools.
The Special Adviser said the present administration in the state had made it clear that education at both primary and Secondary school levels are free and warned the Principals, especially the UBE Principals and Headmasters against extortion from parents and school children.
Hon. Abdulmalik expressed disappointment that some unrepentant head teachers and principals of public schools has refused to desist from illegal collections of money in the school.
He said the state government seriously frowned at any form of extortion in the guise of printing examination questions papers or maintenance fee.
While explaining that the government of Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo has settled all the payments for JAMB, NABTEB, NECO, SSCE, BECE, Common Entrance and Mock Examinations in the state, he disclosed that the Ministry of Education under Hon. Wemi Jones has activated monitoring mechanisms to ensure full compliance, and warned that any principal, headteacher, or official caught sabotaging the initiative will face disciplinary measures, including dismissal.
Education Secretary, Dekina, in his reaction, appreciated the level of commitment of the state government in the education sector.
He commended Kogi State government for prompt payment of salaries to workers in the state and appealed to the governor to implement all outstanding promotions and support the school system with administrative charge/ subvention for smooth running of the school calendar, and to help the school administrators maintain 100 per cent compliance with the free education policy.
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