Gombe gov’t approves N417.5 million payment for students’ WASCCE, others
Over 21,988 students who scored 50 per cent and above in mock examinations conducted by Gombe State would benefit from the ratification of N417.5m as payment for West Africa Examination Council, National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies and National Business and Technical Examinations Board.
Speaking shortly after the 29th council meeting presided by Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, the Commissioner for Education Dr Aishatu Maigari, said 21,988 formed 78.59 per cent of the total number of candidates who had sat for the mock examination.
She said, “21,988 is the number of those who have gotten 50 per cent and above in the mock examination set by the administration and they form 78.59 per cent of the total number of candidates who had sat for the mock examination. Council approved N417.5m for payment.
“A breakdown of it shows that for WAEC, we have registered 20,685 students. For NABTEB, we have sponsored 1,167 and for NBAIS we have registered 136 students which give us a total of 21,988, it includes the amount of the online biometric registration, procurement of specimen and reagents for practicals, transportation of examination materials from Bauchi which is the WAEC centre monitoring and supervision of the examination.
“There are what is called mandatory fees for NBAIS and there are charges for lower and higher candidature.”
Maigari added that the governor’s gesture since the inception of the administration had improved the rating of students of Gombe.
“We have seen our WAEC results going higher where most of our students who we have registered are getting minimum requirements of five credits in Mathematics and English,” the commissioner added.
Speaking further, Maigari disclosed that N331.1m has been ratified by the council for payment of an outstanding scholarship to 16,113 students from the 2017 to 2022 academic session.
The commissioner added that the beneficiaries have been verified, adding, “Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has paid a total amount of N331.1m being students scholarship allowances to 16,113 students registered across from 2017 to 2022 academic session.
“The students have been verified, even the backlogs that have not been paid have been paid. The process is ongoing and students are being verified. If you are duly verified, they have gotten their scholarship awards,” he said.
