The Members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly have declared have vindicated the state commissioner of education who was severely criticized in recent days for insisting that only eligible and qualified candidates will enjoy the support of the state government on WAEC sponsorship.
The commissioner was summoned by the state assembly to explain the rationale behind government decision to downsize the number of candidates to enjoy the government sponsorship.
The commissioner who appeared before the house explained unequivocally that the decision was necessary in view of continues racketeering corruption and infiltration of non-existent and unqualified candidates as has been the norm.
Honorable Yunusa Ahmad and Hon. Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo who said they were satisfied with the explanation offered by Dr. Tilde on the policy insisted that the house must support the government to enable it address the anomalies in the system.
In their separate remarks, Hon. Gazali Abubakar and Hon. Sabo Bako Sade argued that although the policy may be painful for some people, government should remain resolute in implementing policies that will have enduring impacts on the lives of the citizens.
The Honourable Members welcome the policies introduced by Dr Tilde to compliment the efforts of Governor Bala Mohammed in reforming the education sector.
They requested the Commissioner to pay much attention to basic infrastructure in secondary schools, welfare of teachers as well as providing enabling environment for students to improve their capacity and performance.
The Commissioner of Education Dr. Aliyu Usman Tilde told the House that the law for sponsorship of students for WAEC was made in 2008 where it stated that the State Government should sponsor only students who pass mock or any other aptitude test examination.
The Commissioner who blamed Principalswho deliberately allocate marks to students as against the MOCK examinations says such malpractices should be discouraged.
He said government must remain focused on getting rid of corrupt tendencies that consistently marred the system for decades.
The Commissioner said former Governors Isa Yuguda and M. A Abubakar have suffered a lot on this racketeering for their inability to get credible people that will sanitize the system.
On the status of those who failed the MOCK, the Commissioner said since they have reached SS3 they can pay and write for their examinations as already the state government had requested WAEC to extend the registration period.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y Suleiman who presided over the plenary thanked the Commissioner for the insightful and satisfying explanations on the matter.
