Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu flanked on the right by Commissioner for Education, Science & Technology, Mr Kehinde Ojo and Chairman of Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education(AANFE), Chief David Adeyanju, at Ola-Oluwa Grammar School, Ilawe Road, Ado-Ekiti.
The distribution of scratch cards for the procurement of the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms by Ekiti State government brightened hope for some 2,500 students with academic requirement for admission into higher institutions.
Beneficiaries are out-of-school youths and repeaters who were registered by the Agency for Adult and Non-formal Education (AANFE) – an agency of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology – to retake the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSSCE) supervised by the West African School Examination (WAEC) Board and National Examination Council (NECO).
Governor Kayode Fayemi, who flagged off the distribution of the free JAMB e-Registration scratch cards at Olaoluwa Grammar School, Ado-Ekiti, said the gesture will assist students with six credits including Mathematics and English Language pursue a course of study in the varsities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education.
Besides, the governor said it will take the financial burden off the shoulders of the parents and guardians of the beneficiaries.
Represented by his deputy, Prof Modupe Adelabu, the governor described the programme as a demonstration his administration’s determination to ensure equal opportunity and education for all and for Ekiti to keep its record as the state with the least number of out-of-school children in the country.
He restated that his administration will not in any way toy with the development and training of youths, who he described as the future of the state.
His words: “Education is a lifelong process and this government will continue to use every strategy at its disposal to move education industry to greater height among the comity of states. The state would leave no stone unturned in order to provide lofty innovation and favourable educational programmes to our teaming populace.”
The governor enjoined beneficiaries to gainfully utilize the opportunity of the free JAMB/UTME registration to secure admission into any of the tertiary institutions within and outside the country.
In his remarks, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology Mr. Kehinde Ojo said the programme has offered hardworking youths a second chance to attain their dreams of pursuing higher educational qualification. According to him, since inception, the Fayemi administration has encouraged youths to pursue higher educational qualification by purchasing and distributing JAMB forms to qualified admission seekers in the state, without ethnic and political consideration.
Going down the memory lane, the commissioner said 72 per cent of the 1910 applicants scored above 180 in the 2012 JAMB while 75 per cent out of the 2100 applicants scored above the 180 cut off mark last year.
The commissioner, who expressed the hope that the 2500 applicants seeking admission this year will record above 90 per cent, urged all stakeholders including teachers and parents to closely monitor and guide the beneficiaries to success so that government’s investment on the programme will not be a waste.
Also speaking, AANFE’s Chairman Chief David Adeyanju said the agency has kept faith with its mandate since it was established in 1996
He listed such mandates to include among others; the creation of awareness on the importance of literacy among the citizens and the provision of functional literacy and remedial education for the out-of-school youths in Ekiti State.
He highlighted some of the achievements of the agency to include: successful establishment of remedial colleges in each of the 16 local government areas in the state, supervision and quality control of private and literary centers owned by non-governmental organizations the establishment of post-literacy centers among others.
Chief Adeyanju thanked Governor Fayemi for his support for the agency in the past three years.
According to the AANFE chief, the government has disbursed through the agency, about N12.7 million on the programme; the management of remedial schools; and the purchase of the JAMB/UTME e-registration cards.
Last modified: February 10, 2014