Kaduna state government has commenced the payment of over five hundred million naira as tuition fees for need and Merit based scholarship to the state students till graduation directly to tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The State Governor, Malam Nasiru El-rufai while flagging off the payment at government house Kaduna said the payments was started with Kaduna State owned institutions
Malam Elrufai noted that, the state inherited scholarship system which student in tertiary institutions gets between 10 to 20,000 Naira per annum, which according to him it was not adequate to do anything for any student in a tertiary institution.
He explained that his administration decided to review the system and revamp it to ensure that, it is not everyone that would get automatic scholarship.
According to him, the state government had already disbursed 819 million naira as education loan to 509 beneficiaries for payment of tuition fee and upkeep for local and foreign students.
The governor also disclosed that, the educational strategy and legal framework of the Kaduna State government has it centre to promote equal opportunity by providing free and compulsory primary and secondary school education for the first 12 years of schooling.
He further explained that, the state had also included in the New education bill awaiting enactment by the state house of Assembly an endowment fund
Malam Nasiru Elrufai also disclosed that, with the enactment of the educational bill , parent and guidance who’s children are not in school will be prosecuted and jailed without the option of fines
According to him, any child found roaming the streets will be traced to his parents or guardian and would be prosecuted
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the state scholarship and loans Board Hassan Rilwan said out of fhe 524 million naira, three state owned tertiary institutions would get 219 million for 1,251 students.
The Excutive Secretary pointed out that, out of 1251 beneficiaries, 534 students were gotten from the State social register.
He maintained that, the processing of other students within and outside the state-owned tertiary institutions will also commence in August, 2022.
Alhaji Hassan Rulwan also announced that, the Board is proposing a fund-raising dinner before the end of the year as a way of launching the proposed education endowment fund
Two of the beneficiary who spoke at the event, Aliyu Suleiman and Jancinta Joseph, both student of kaduna state university appreciated the state government for the kind gesture.
COV/AMINU DALHATU,Kaduna
