By Ahmed Ahmed
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has approved the release of the sum of N 396,963,000 for the settlement of the 14,170 students’ external examination fees in the state.
This is contained in a statement signed by Jalaludeen Usman, Information Officer of the State Ministry of Education made available to Journalists on Sunday in Bauchi
He said the allocated sum of N396,963,000 is to cover the external examination fees that include NECO, WAEC, NBAIS, and JAMB, for a total of 14,170 SS3 indexed students in public schools for the 2023/2024 academic session in the state.
“This is part of this administration’s commitment to fostering educational excellence and easing financial burdens on students and parents, particularly during these challenging times.
“Unlike previous years, where payments for external examinations were often delayed or covered through borrowed funds,
“Gov Mohammed has ensured that these funds are paid upfront, also settling over 800 million naira in debts incurred by previous administrations to continue down payments for examination fees since 2020, reflecting his proactive approach to educational support,” he said.
He added that the payments for NECO, WAEC, and NBAIS examinations extend to all indexed students who successfully passed the aptitude test conducted by the Ministry of Education on February 1st, 2024.
“This initiative aims to ensure that students are suitably prepared to excel in their external examinations, thus promoting quality education across the state.
“This administration’s generosity extends to covering the JAMB examination fees totalling 9,560,400 NGN for 1,542 students who exhibited outstanding performance during the aptitude test, earning an impressive A grade.
“This strategic move is intended to inspire other students to strive for academic excellence and reinforces the government’s dedication to nurturing a culture of meritocracy in education,” the Information Officer said.
Usman said the Ministry appreciated Gov Mohammed for his support for educational development and commitment to inspire hope and pave the way for a brighter future for youth.