By Najib Sani Bauchi
Bauchi state Governor Mohammed Abubakar has stated that about 17.6 per cent of students in the state obtained more than fi ve credits in the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) examinations last year.
Speaking yesterday while receiving members of the National Union of Bauchi State Students (NUBASS) led by his Special Assistant on Student Matters, Najimuddeen Garba, who paid him a solidarity visit at the Government House, Bauchi, the governor said before the inception of his administration, only 3.5 per cent of the state’s students could pass their senior secondary school certifi cate examinations (SSCE). He said the improvement of the students’ performances in such examinations was as a result of the government’s “favourable education policies and programmes.”
Abubakar reiterated the commitment of his administration to continue to accord priority attention to matters concerning students and youths. Earlier, Comrade Garba told the governor that the visit was aimed at expressing appreciation to the government over regular payment of students’ annual scholarship despite the paucity of funds.
He particularly commended the government for facilitating the accreditation of all courses and the introduction of degree programmes in the Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi, which, hitherto, had only three of its courses accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
“We also commend the governor for upgrading the former Adult and Non formal Education Institute, Kangere, to a College of Education and the allocation of 26 per cent of the state’s budget to the education sector as requested by UNESCO,” he said.
