Kogi Govt Engages Principals, Parents on Effective Implementation of Free Education Policies
By Stephen Adeleye
Lokoja, March 28, 2024
In its efforts to continue to evolve and restore the lost glory of Education in Kogi, the State Government has engaged with critical stakeholders to brainstorm on the effective implementation of education laws and policies in the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, (FCIB), disclosed this at the stakeholders meeting with parents and principals of public secondary schools in the state, held on Thursday at Government House Lokoja.
The stakeholders include: All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Parent Teachers Associations (PTAs), Academic Staff Union of Secondary School (ASUSS), among others.
Jones said the initiative was prompted by the commitment and determination of His Excellency, Gov Ahmed Ododo to bringing back the past glory when education was the source of pride in the state.
According to him, part of the decisions is to keep evolving, planing and engaging the critical stakeholders for the survival of education in the state.
“We have to come together to discuss and chart a way forward inline with the thinking of our Governor, so that we can manage education on a sustainable basis,” he said.
He noted that the immediate past Governor, Alh. Yahaya Bello, had recorded significant milestones in education sector, stressing that the new administration of Gov. Ahmed Usman Ododo is building on that trajectory.
He enumerated the milestones to include: the enactment of Kogi State Education Law 2020, Free Education Law; payment of external and external exams.
Also, the increase in education annual budget from about 10 per cent in 2015 to 30 per cent since 2021 till date, recruitment of teachers, construction of Model science secondary schools across the state’s federal constituencies, among others.
The commissioner encouraged the principals to get the copy of the Kogi State Education Law 2020 to familiarise themselves with its clauses, expressing government’s readiness for full implementation.
He, however warned the principals against any form of sharp practices that could hinder the smooth implementation of government’s free education policies especially in the area of payment of all exams’ fees.
“We have discovered some criminal intent from some fraudulent principals who tried to take advantage of certain loopholes, but we are watching them.
“We advised them to desist, because anybody that is cut will be made to face the full wrath of the law especially as contained in the Kogi State Education Law 2020,” Jones said.
The commissioner also assured that the list of second batch of teachers’ recruitment would be released as soon as the approval is gotten from the governor.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Kogi Ministry of Education, Alhaji Musa Dele Yakubu, commended the Commissioner for his zeal to moving education to the highest level in the state.
The PS solicited for the cooperation and support of the lprincipals to moving education forward for the benefits of the state.
In his remarks, the President of ANCOPSS, Kogi chapter, Mr Suberu Omananyi, appreciated the commissioner for the meeting, saying it was apt and timely.
He commended the state government for doing a lot to revamping education at all levels in the state in terms of infrastructures and human resources development
Omonanyi promised the total cooperation and support of ANCOPPS to the administration of Gov. Ahmed Usman Ododo in his bid to restoring the glory of education in the state.
“I believe our resolutions here today will go a long way to save and improve secondary school education in the state,” Omonanyi
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