The Kaduna State Government said on Friday that its decision to abolish payment of school fees would allow parents in the state to save as much as N3 billion annually.
The state’s Commissioner for Education Science and Technology, Prof. Andrew Nok, stated this during a press briefing on the one year anniversary of Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai’s administration.
Nok said that, in addition, the administration had paid N105 million NECO examination fees for over 10, 000 students.
“Also in the last 12 months, the government has made admission into Kaduna state owned tertiary institutions free, to further relieve parents of the financial stress”.
He added that the state government spends N314 million weekly, under the free feeding programme for 1.5 million primary school pupils in the state.
“The programme has successfully provided jobs to 17, 000 food vendors who now have steady flow of income.
“The standard of feeding in boarding schools has also improved from N33 to N180 per day per students, “Nok said.
The commissioner disclosed that more than N6 billion has been spent on schools rehabilitation and provision of furniture from September 2015 to January 2016.
He explained that the repairs covered 420 out of 4,265 public primary schools in the state, adding that free uniforms were also being distributed to secondary and primary school students.
The commissioner said that 2,500 secondary school teachers have been recruited in core science subjects, to beef up the teachers ratio in the state.
“With current reform in the sector, teachers can now rise to grade level 17, and this would be equally extended to primary schools as motivation for all our teachers.
“Our vision is to enable every citizen in Kaduna state to be self reliant, productive and contribute to sustainable development, “ Nok said.