The Katsina state Government on Sunday said it had paid about N400m for students of the state origin preparing to write next year’s May-June school certificate examination to be conducted by the national examination council, NECO.
The Secretary to the State Government, Dr Mustapha Inuwa made the disclosure while receiving in his office a delegation of the state branch of NECO led by its State Officer, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar.
Dr Inuwa said the state government sees education as its top priority, especially foundation education, since its inception in 2015, and has invested its meager resources heavily in that sector.
He noted that the introduction of pre-qualification examination for candidates wishing to access its scholarship and sitting of the public examination is to ensure that only those qualified are enlisted.
He dismissed the misinterpretation of the introduction of the pre-qualification examination by parents and noted the remarkable improvement in the performance of the students from the state in public examinations.
He assured that government will continue to provide an enabling environment for education to thrive in the state.
Dr Inuwa said ’’Performance of our students in public examinations are not only getting better, but with quality results. As an examination body you must uphold the integrity of the process and ensure exam malpractices free exercise’’.
Earlier, the State Officer of NECO, Alhaji Umar told the SGS that they were in his office to thank the state government for promptly paying the examination fee of its student and to appreciate the existing cordial relationship between NECO and the state Government.
He further disclosed that staff recruitment for the state branch of NECO reflected all the 34 local Government areas of the state.
He also appreciated the land donated by the government for the building of NECO office in the state and that they will continue to seek the assistance of the state government in future.