Delta Govt To Stop Payment Of Free WAEC/NECO Enrollment Fees

Delta State Government on Wednesday says it is considering stopping the payment of enrollment fees for candidates sitting for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) in the state.

The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chiedu Ebie dropped the hint during a press conference in Asaba, the state capital.

He hinged the decision to stop the payment on claims that many of the supposed beneficiaries do not actually sit for the examination in the state but in some supposed ‘miracle centres’ outside the state. .

According to him, the state government was wasting public funds running into millions of naira on the annual payment of colossal amount of money as enrollment fees for SSCE candidates sitting for both the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) whereas the supposed beneficiaries don’t enjoy the privilege in the state.

He said the migration of final year students in secondary schools from the state was one of the major challenges facing education in  the state, regretting that over 40% absenteeism is being recorded at every examination after the fees had be paid by government.

“Migration of SSS 3 students out of the state for WAEC and NECO is another serious issue. This is why the state government stopped the payment of enrollment of students because we were recording over 40% absenteeism after the payment of enrollment fees for the supposed beneficiaries, who storm miracle centres outside the state for higher grades.

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“You clearly see that the state is running at a loss, and parents don’t feel the impact because the money is not from their pockets,” Ebie stated.

He said the ministry has strengthened its monitoring unit to ensure that examination malpractice is reduced or completely eliminated from the state.