The Rivers State commissioner of Education, Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja has warned all secondary school principals not to charge WAEC registration fee more than the government stipulated amount, which is 14,500 naira.
The Commissioner stated this while playing host to this years annual appraisal on the WAEC exams, in the conference room of the ministry.
He advised parents to report any principal who charges more than the government stipulated amount of WAEC registration fee to the Rivers State ministry of education.
Hon. Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja,while addressing newsmen, after the appraisal meeting with stakeholders in the education sector in Rivers State, said the State government has introduced a ” unified certificate”, in both public and private schools.
He said, the reasons for the introduction of the certificate is to track the movement of students from one school to the other, especially students who move from their schools to “miracle centers” for examination malpractice. He warned that if any student is caught doing so, will face the law, while the principal of such school will be decisively dealt with, in accordance with the law.
Continuing, the commissioner said, the key stakeholders annual meeting is usually held at the end of the West African Senior certificate Examination, every year, with Stakeholders in Public, private schools and agencies under the ministry of education, to do an appraisal of performances, and to also look at the way forward for next year’s (2019) examination.
He commended the entire bodies for last year’s (2017) performances as Rivers State came fourth position in the entire nation in their WAEC performance. According to him, the idea for the appraisals is to improve on their performances and sustain it. He added that, Rivers State government has committed so much resources, to improve the quality of education in the state.
Dr. Gogo-Jaja warned that the Rivers State government will no longer compromise with those who cut corners or encourage exam malpractices.
On her part, Mrs. Sokari Davie’s, the director of secondary education, in the Ministry of education,stressed on the need to abolish examination malpractice centers adding that the reason is to encourage children to read, so that they can defend their certificates.
She also commended the entire body for their efforts last year 2017, and prayed that Rivers State will come first this year while encouraging the entire body to continue to work in synergy.
Also, Chief Hon. Eddy-Green, the state president of National Association of Proprietor’s of Private schools (NAPPS), said, the body will continue to work with the state government and ministry of education to ensure that examination malpractice and illegal schools are history in the state.
Mr. Iregbu Austin, State president of All Nigerian Confederation of Principal’s (ANCOPs) also pitched in saying:
“as part of the organization’s efforts, in helping government combat irregularities in the education sector, the organization will continue to fight until Rivers state is ranked number one in the education sector in Nigeria.” He said.
