In a bid to promote accessible education, the Kwara State government has taken a proactive step to ensure that headmasters and principals do not collect fees from candidates or parents for the upcoming common entrance examination.
Scheduled to be held on August 19, 2023, across the 16 local government areas of the state, the examination aims to facilitate the placement of students into Junior Secondary Schools.
The Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development emphasized in a statement issued on Sunday in Ilorin that the common entrance examination is entirely free of charge, with all expenses covered by the Kwara State Government.
The government sternly cautioned headteachers and principals against any attempt to collect money from pupils or their parents for the examination.
To enforce the no-fee policy, the ministry warned of appropriate sanctions for any head teacher or principal found engaging in such unlawful acts.
This measure aims to ensure that every child has an equal opportunity to take the examination, regardless of their financial background.
In addition to the fee-free aspect, the ministry also reminded pupils to prepare diligently for the examination and stressed that any form of malpractice will not be tolerated.
By promoting fairness and integrity in the examination process, the government seeks to provide a level playing field for all students in Kwara State.