Why we increased education budget, by Kogi govt

Kogi State Government has explained that it increased the 2024 education budget to 30 per cent to restore the glory of the sector and raise the state to an enviable height of the most educated in the country.

The Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, stated this in a meeting with Principals of Secondary Schools and Parent–Teacher Association (PTA) representatives in the state.

He also disclosed that Governor Ahmed Ododo released funds for the payment of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), Basic Six and Common Entrance Examinations fees for pupils in the state’s public schools.

Jones assured that the Ododo administration would continue the legacies of the last administration in education, calling on principals, teachers and parents to cooperate with the government for the smooth implementation of education policies and programmes in the state.

According to him, the state government has invested heavily in education and called for the cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure that programmes and policies of the government in education are implemented for the economic growth of the state. He enjoined them to get themselves acquainted with the 2020 State Education Law to avoid being found wanting.

The meeting, which was called for stakeholders to brainstorm on ways to implement the government’s free education policy, also had in attendance representatives of the state’s Science, Technical Education and Teaching Service Commission (STETSCOM), All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), principals of public secondary schools, PTA and local council chairmen across the state among others.