In response to the plea of parents, the Federal Government has slashed the costs of forms for the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, examination and the National Examination Council, NECO.
From January, 2019, JAMB form will sell for N3,500 as opposed to N5,000.
The Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, SSCE, handled by National Examination Council, NECO, will be reduced from 11,350 to N9,850, while the form for Basic Education Certificate, BEC, examination, organised by NECO, will go down to N4,000 from N5,500.
The reduction was announced on Wednesday by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting.
He said the reduction was approved at the meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
President Muhammadu Buhari was away in Maiduguri, Borno State, where he attended the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, conference to boost the morale of soldiers fighting insurgency.
Addressing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Adamu said the reduction was in response to the plea of parents.
According to him, President Buhari instructed that the reduction should be carried out.
Said the minister: “Since the new administration came into office and a change in management and prudent management by JAMB, we have been able to see that most of what have been charged doesn’t have to be because a lot of it have been siphoned by corrupt officials.
“So, in answer to yearnings of parents, Mr. President directed that we should look into the possibility of reducing the charges.
“So accordingly, from January 2019, JAMB fees will be from N5,000 to N3,500 for the UTME, Senior Secondary Certificate charged by National Examination Council, NECO, from 11,350 to N9,850 and Basic Education Certificate handled by NECO is reduced from N5,500 to N4,000.”
