By Emmanuel Oluwakorede
Kogi State Government has threatened to deal decisively with anyone working against its Free Education policy for public basic and Secondary schools.
Commissioner of Education, Mr. Wemi Jones gave the warning on this week’s edition of State of Kogi, a Radio Kogi Audience Participatory Programme.
Towards the end of the immediate past administration of Governor Yahaya Bello, Kogi State Government announced free education for public primary and secondary schools, a gesture that is being sustained by the Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo led administration.
With reports of some school administrators allegedly sabotaging the gesture with unauthorized levels, the Education Commissioner, Mr. Wemi Jones noted that all efforts to frustrate the Free Education programme will be resisted by every instrument of government.
He said in view of the pivotal role of teachers as the engine room of Basic and Secondary Education, plans are on to recruit more as soon as the Governor gives approval.
According to the Commissioner, the State education sector has witnessed monumental development in the last three months with approvals for payment of WAEC, Bursary for students of tertiary institutions of the State origin.
Mr. Jones pointed out that all courses in the State own higher institutions have been accredited by the relevant regulatory bodies, saying Government is also focusing on Basic and Secondary Education.
While responding to a caller, Mr. Amedu Monday from Dekina on the alleged beating of a pupil to death at of of the schools in that Local Government, the Commissioner promised to get to the root of the matter.
He called on the public especially parents to see themselves and government as partners in progress in a bid to restore the lost glory of education in the State.
Mr. Jones expressed optimism that the dilapidation of schools will soon be addressed following the ongoing implementation of the World Bank assisted Adolescent Girl Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project in the State.
