The Kogi State government on Wednesday extended the distribution of free science textbooks to Senior Secondary Secondary (SSS 2) students in 148 public schools in the Eastern Senatorial district of the state.
According to report, the free Chemistry and Physics textbooks, totaling 11,000, were donated by Alhaji Usman Ododo, the Kogi Auditor-General for Local Government, in support of the State Government’s School Adoption and Mentorship Programme (SAMP).
Speaking at Our Lady of Schools, Anyigba, Gov. Yahaya Bello of the state, commended the donor for boosting his administration’s effort to revamping education and for extending the gesture across all the three senatorial district.
Bello, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Wemi Jones, said that the distribution of the 11,000 science textbooks was inaugurated on Nov. 12, at Okene, in Kogi Central.
Bello reaffirmed his commitment to giving utmost priority to education sector, particularly the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The governor stressed that education remained the most expensive venture that any government could fund, and expressed his full support for the school adoption programme.
He enjoined individuals and organisations to support government’s efforts through its school adoption programme to bringing back the glory of education in the state.
The governor cautioned schools’ principals and teachers against selling the textbooks, saying government had put machinery in motion to ensure the books were effectively utilised as intended.
Bello noted that the education ministry was already working with other individual who had volunteered to sponsor the production of Mathematics textbooks.
He further said that the state government during the recent State Executive Council meeting, approved the elongation of service years for teachers from 35 to 40 years in service as well as 60 to 65 years’ retirement age.
The governor stressed that Kogi remained the first state to domesticate such education policy of the federal government on the elongation of teachers’ service years.
He emphasised that the policy would enable the state to retain its agile and competent teachers who were often lost due to retirement age.
He urged the students to utilise the textbooks effectively by studying hard, saying there was no more room for examination malpractice in the state.
The President of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Mr Robert Awodi, and the state’s Chairman, Academic Staff Union Of Secondary Schools, Mr Ojo Ranti, both thanked the donor for extending the free textbooks to all SSS2 students in the state.
The unions commended the governor for giving approval for the elongation of service year and retirement age for teachers in the state.
Some of the students, Fatima Yusuf from Holy Rosery College, Idah; and Goodness Egbunu from Community Secondary, Abocho, both expressed their excitement, saying it would boost their morale to study hard and pass their examinations.