10th February, 2016
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
The Delta State government is to spend N372.9 million for the payment of fees for the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) and National Business and Technical Board (NABTEB).
Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Patrick Ukah made the disclosure while briefing the press on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting held in Asaba Tuesday.
According to Mr Ukah who was flanked by the Commissioners for Works, Chief James Augoye, Mr. Chiedu Ebie and Arch. Joseph Ogeh, Basic and Secondary Education and Housing respectively, payment of the examination fees was in line with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s free education policy for primary and secondary school students.
“EXCO agreed to pay the enrolment fees and incidental cost for SSS 3 and Vocational Students in Delta State Public, Senior Secondary School and Technical Colleges,” Ukah said.
“The total number of students to be enrolled for the 2016 SSCE and NABTEB (National Board for Technical Examination) Certificate Examination for Vocational students in the state is 28,898,” he added.
While stating that EXCO approved the construction of a new central Ultra-Modern Secretariat Complex in Asaba to house all Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) operating from rented structures for administrative convenience, Mr Ukah said EXCO approved the revocation of the contracts for the construction of Palace road, Igbodo in Ika North East local government area of the state; construction of Afiesere/Ofuoma-Ughelli road; the construction of sections A and B of the Warri/Effurun Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
In his contribution, Commissioner Ebie lauded the large turn-out of Deltans and stakeholders for the recently held education summit in the state, noting that far-reaching decisions on the way forward for the education sector was reached.
According to Mr Ebie, a post-summit implementation committee would be set up to ensure that resolutions reached at the summit impact positively on the people, assuring that Governor Okowa was very passionate about the future of Deltans through quality education curriculum.