Katsina Gov. Radda approves N1.3bn as exam fees for indigenous students

Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda has sanctioned more than N1.3 billion for the payment of final examination fees for impoverished students in the state’s public secondary institutions.

Mukhtar Abdulmumini, the Chief Executive Officer of the state Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education’s Planning and Research Department, made the announcement in Katsina.

Mr Abdulmumini made the announcement during the fourth quarter meeting of the TWG for Social Protection.

The meeting, which was held in accordance with the state’s social protection policy, was sponsored by UNICEF in partnership with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

According to Mr Abdulmumini, N370.9 million was spent throughout the period on 20,269 pupils who took the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, or WASSCE.

He went on to say that N992.9 million had been authorized for 48,385 pupils who took the National Examination Council, or NECO.

“Also, the sum of N27.9 million was paid for 1,878 who sat for the National Board for Arabic and Islamic (NBAIS) examination.”

He stated that N4.5 million was provided to students who took National Business and Technical Examination Board, NABTEB, exams.

According to him, the amount spent in this quarter alone for the payment of final examinations for the state’s indigenes is more than N1.3 billion.

He stated that the reimbursement of examination costs was an effort to promote indigenous students who sat for their various final examinations like as WAEC, NECO, NBAIS, and NABTEB.

Mr Abdulmumini also disclosed that the administration had hired 7,325 additional teachers for both primary and secondary schools in an effort to eliminate unemployment and improve education in the state.

“Within the period, no fewer than 350 evaluators received training on Essential Quality Assurance Skills for teachers.”In addition, the government has purchased chemical materials for 30 schools for N26 million.

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“Katsina state, in collaboration with UNICEF and as part of their climate change effort, granted N150,000 to 25 schools in five LGAs.”

“The grant will be used to prevent desert encroachment and erosion by planting trees in their schools, among other things.”

“The disbursement of the grant is the first phase, the second phase will be disbursed very soon and is N100,000.”

Bindawa, Funtua, Bakori, Kaita, and Jibia are among the LGAs that will benefit, according to Mr Abdulmumini.