Kogi returns 135,000 out of school children back to classrooms

The Kogi State Government on Thursday, said it was able to return over one hundred thirty-five thousand out of school children back to the classrooms within the last one year

The Commissioner of Education in the State, Wemi Jones who stated this when he defended the budget of the ministry before the Kogi House of Assembly committee on Education, noted that the state was able to achieve this through its free education policy.

“We are able to achieve this through our policy on free education. All our public schools are tuition free. All examinations like the Basic education certificate, WAEC and Jamb are fully paid for by the government.

According to him, the State Government has also invested huge resources in education through the payment of the state counterpart funding to all other agencies in which the State government has collaboration like the Universal Basic Education.

“The Government and by extension the Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo is very committed to the provision of qualitative and affordable education for the people of the state. The state government has consistently earmarked 30% of the state’s budget for education. This is huge.

“The universities are doing very well as well as our model secondary schools. You will agree with me that even if you give the whole of the state’s budget to education, it will still not be enough. However, with what we are being given, the schools are running optimally.

The chairman of the house committee on Education, Hon. Idris Aliyu Maikudi, commended the state government for its huge investment in education, particularly the establishment of two functional universities Within a record time of three years.

He promised that the state Assembly will continue to work in collaboration with the state government and the ministry of education, by ensuring adequate budgetary provision and constant oversight function on the ministry.