Bauchi Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir has approved the allocation of funds totaling the sum of N396,963,000 to cover the external examination fees, including NECO, WAEC, NBAIS, and JAMB for 2024 session.
The amount is to cater for a total of 14,170 SS3 indexed students in all public schools across the state to enable them benefit from sponsorship for the 2023/2024 academic session.
The development was announced by the Ministry of Education describing it as a stride in educational support as the Governor continues his steadfast dedication to the advancement of education in the state.
This substantial investment underscores the Governor’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, Bala Mohammed has ensured that these funds are paid upfront.
The Governor also directed the settling of over N800 million in debts incurred by previous administrations to continue down payments for examination fees since 2020, reflecting a proactive approach to educational support.
In a further demonstration of commitment to educational excellence, 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.
Additionally, the Governor’s generosity extends to covering the JAMB examination fees totaling N9,560,400 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 significant increase in both the number of beneficiaries and the funds released for external examinations for the current academic session represents a percentage increase of approximately 59.98% from 2021/2022 to 2022/2023 and approximately 26.58% from 2022/2023 to the current year.
This increase reflects the Governor’s unwavering commitment to ensuring equitable access to education for all students in Bauchi State, with the total amounts paid for the examinations being N196,068,002.50 for 2021/2022, N313,578,000 NGN for 2022/2023, and now N396,963,600 for 2023/2024, respectively.
The Ministry of Education and its stakeholders extend heartfelt appreciation to the Governor, for his visionary leadership and steadfast support for educational development in Bauchi State.
The stakeholders opined that the Governor’s generosity and commitment to education continue to inspire hope and pave the way for a brighter future for the youth of Bauchi State as contained in a statement by Jalaludeen Usman, Information Officer Ministry of Education.
