Financial relief appears to be on the way for parents, as Ondo state Govenor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, said his administration will henceforth foot the School Certificate Examination fees other wise known as WAEC fees for students in the public schools.
Akeredolu made the revelation while playing host to the National leadership of National pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN in his Office, Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital.
According to him, he said the decision to start paying WAEC Fees for students in the terminal class of secondary level of education for public schools in the state was consequent upon the desire of his administration to alleviate the financial burden of parents in educating their children.
He further stated that the announcement of the decision has to be deferred till now to avoid misconstruing the genuine intention of his administration as being politically motivated in view of the governorship election held in the state last month.
"The Commissioner for Education and his team have met with me on the policy. I have told them to get prepared for its implementation"
"In fact we have to delay the announcement till now so that some people won't tag our genuine intention as a political ploy to curry the votes from our people", Akeredolu said.
He also explained that resources at the disposal of the state at the moment were limited, he however said his administration would endeavour to source the needed funds for the successful implementation of the policy.
The governor said he was aware that quite a number of parents were finding it difficult to pay the terminal examination fees of their children at the particular time of the year, the School Certificate Examination fees is required to be paid to the West African Examination Council.
Earlier, the National President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Rev'd Dr Felix Omobude congratulated the governor on his victory at the last month governorship election.
He said the various life changing projects and policies of the Arakunrin Akeredolu administration were undoubtedly considered during the last month gubernatorial election in state.
"The people of Ondo State voted for you for a second term in office as a result of your masses oriented policies. I therefore congratulate you, Mr Governor, the PFN president said.
The cleric who was accompanied by some members of the Advisory Council Members of the PFN used the opportunity of the visit to pray for the governor, Ondo State and Nigeria.
He enjoined leaders in positions of authority to continually lead with the fear of God and honesty of purpose.
