In a welcome move aimed at easing the financial burden on families and promoting education access, the Kwara State government has announced a significant subsidization of the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) fees for students in public schools across the state. This decision benefits a total of 55,150 candidates preparing to take the crucial exam.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq approved the initiative, recognizing the impact inflation and rising examination costs could have on student participation. Instead of the planned increase to N5,000 or more, public school students will only pay N2,500, aligning with the previous year’s fees. This generous subsidy effectively halves the financial burden for families navigating challenging economic conditions.

“This subsidy is part of our ongoing commitment to supporting our students and their parents,” stated an official release from the Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development. “We want to ensure that no student is denied the opportunity to take the BECE due to financial constraints.”

The statement further emphasized the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards exploitation. “We strongly warn against any public official attempting to extort money from parents under the guise of the BECE fees,” it declared. “Such actions will face swift and severe consequences.

This timely intervention by the Kwara government demonstrates a commitment to prioritizing education and ensuring equal opportunities for all students, regardless of background or financial hardship.