‘17% of Bauchi Students Now Pass WAEC, NECO Exams’

Segun Awofadeji

The Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, has stated that about 17.6 per cent of students in the state obtained more than five credits in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations conducted last year.

Speaking while receiving members of the National Union of Bauchi State Students (NUBASS), led by his Special Assistant on Students’ Matters, Najimuddeen Garba, who paid him a solidarity visit, the governor claimed that before the inception of his administration, only 3.5 per cent of the students used to pass their senior school certificate examinations (SSCE).

He said the improved performance was as a result of government’s ‘favourable’ education policies and programmes and reiterated his administration’s commitment to continue to make matters concerning students and youths its priority.

In his remarks, Najimuddeen told the governor that the visit was to thank him for regular payment of students’ annual scholarship, despite paucity of funds.

He particularly commended the government for facilitating the accreditation of all courses and the introduction of degree programmes at the Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi, which 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.’’