The Lagos State Government has clarified that the payment of examination fees by the present administration is only for JSS3 State Public Secondary Schools students who will sit for the 2019 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Adebunmi Adekanye stated this in a media chat held at Ikeja on Thursday, stressing that the clarification became necessary to educate parents and guardians of children and wards in Private Secondary Schools who have been visiting the Lagos State Examinations Board to seek a refund of fees already paid. Such parents had the erroneous impression that the State Government payments covered all students across the Lagos.

She emphasised that despite the government’s commitment to ensuring all students get quality education in the State, the onus to pay examination fees for students in private schools rests on their parents.

Adekanye reiterated that the payment of BECE fees by the government was limited to public school students in the State.

However, the Permanent Secretary gave assurance that the government will prevent extortion of parents of students in Private Schools by the operators or public officials, noting that the cost of the examination is the same for students in both public and private schools without discrimination.

The Permanent Secretary also urged Public School students and parents to report any official of government who seeks payment of any sum of money for whatever reason to the Tutors-General in their Education Districts or her office at the Ministry of Education, Alausa for prompt action.

Recall that in furtherance of the free education policy of the State government, fees for all terminal examinations such as Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and West Africa Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE) are fully paid by the government for Public Schools students only.