By Oye Chijioke.
Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Chiedu Ebie has stressed that the State is not indebted to West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) over examination fees for Senior Secondary School students.
In a statement from the Ministry, Mr. Ebie said that government has met all its obligations in January 2015 to WAEC with the payment of N269, 440, 650 million (Two and Sixty Nine Million, Four Hundred and Forty Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) 2014/2015 WASSCE fees for 23,397 students that sat for the 2014/2015 May/June WAEC . He also pointed out that it has become necessary to clear the air over rumours making the rounds of which state was indebted or not and therefore called on WAEC to release the names of its debtors.
The Commissioner explained that this administration would not jeopardize the future of school children in the state, even as he reiterated government’s commitment to improve and sustain quality education that is centred on infrastructure development, capacity building, welfare of teachers and students, provision of instructional materials and teaching aids.
While admonishing students not to entertain any fear concerning the release of their WAEC results, he said that affected students in both public and private schools in the state should feel free to check their results online without hindrance.
Mr. Ebie, who was also speaking on examination malpractice, said that government has zero tolerance for examination malpractice and anyone caught would be sanctioned. He added that the ministry was set to intensify examination monitoring in order to curb the menace. He urged students to take their studies seriously and shun shortcut to success as unmerited certificates does no one any good.
Judith Emeka-Wemembu
PRO
Min of Basic & Sec. Edu
