By Innocent Anoruo
Kwara State Government has vowed to sanction any principal that collects above approved examination fees by the State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development as the state government formally flagged off registration for this year’s National Examination Council (NECO) in the state.
This, according to the state Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Saadatu Madibo Kawu, “is part of ongoing reform agenda to curb exorbitant charges on external examinations by some principals in the state.”
Giving the breakdown of the approved registration fees and other charges of NECO 2022/ 2023 during the flag off of NECo registration at St. Anthony Secondary School Ilorin, the commissioner said NECO fees is N17, 800.00, E-registration charge, N1,050.00, administrative charge to school, N1,100.00, while
Four-Figure Table is N500.00.
According to the commissioner, each school is required to pay a total of N5,200 for photo album, syllabus and waterproof certificate folder/jacket.
The total amount to be paid for NECO examination per candidate, according to the commissioner came to N22, 450 only.
Kawu emphasised that the ministry would not tolerate any indiscriminate charges from any principal, apart from fees approved by the ministry.
She also warned that no principal should admit external students during this year’s registration exercise.
The Director, Curriculum and Assessment of the ministry, Folashade Raji, said all payments should be made directly to Kwara Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS).
In their own contributions, the President of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Usman Abdulahi, and the Chairman of Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Kwara State chapter, Bashir Oyewo, commended the Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for his support in redeeming education system in the state, and solicited for cash backing of promotion arrears of teachers in Kwara State Teaching Service and State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Staff.
They appealed to the governor to consider appointment of teachers as permanent secretaries in the state, and also put an end to salary disparity between Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and SUBEB staff members in the state.
They, however, promised, on behalf of all principals and teachers in the state of their commitment to enhanced productivity.
Source: The Guardian
