In a significant move towards promoting education and social welfare, Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has green-lighted the disbursement of more than N1.3 billion for the final examination fees of indigent pupils in public secondary schools across the state.
The announcement came during the fourth quarter meeting of the social protection Technical Working Group held in Katsina.
Alhaji Mukhtar Abdulmumini, the Chief Executive Officer of the Planning and Research Department of the state Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, unveiled this decision, highlighting its alignment with the social protection policy.
The meeting, which received support from UNICEF in collaboration with the state’s Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, aimed to address the educational needs of underprivileged students.
During the disclosed period, a total of N370.9 million was utilized to support 20,269 pupils who undertook the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, while N992.9 million was allocated for 48,385 students who participated in the National Examination Council. Additionally, N27.9 million was disbursed for 1,878 students who sat for the National Board for Arabic and Islamic examination, and N4.5 million was allocated for pupils taking the National Business and Technical Examination Board exams.
The cumulative expenditure for the payment of final examinations exceeded N1.3 billion in this quarter alone.
Abdulmumini emphasized that this financial commitment aimed to encourage indigent pupils pursuing various final examinations, including WAEC, NECO, NBAIS, and NABTEB.
In a broader effort to combat unemployment and enhance education in the state, the government has recruited 7,325 new teachers for both primary and secondary schools. Notably, over 350 evaluators received training on essential quality assurance skills for teachers.
Furthermore, the government invested N26 million to procure chemistry materials for 30 schools, demonstrating a commitment to advancing science education. In collaboration with UNICEF and as part of climate change initiatives, the government granted N150,000 to 25 schools in five local government areas.
This grant aims to prevent desert encroachment and erosion by supporting tree-planting initiatives and other measures.
The disbursement, marking the first phase, will be followed by a second phase with a N100,000 allocation.
The LGAs benefitting from these initiatives include Bindawa, Funtua, Bakori, Kaita, and Jibia. Abdulmumini affirmed that these measures are integral to fostering holistic development and ensuring a brighter future for the state’s youth.
