Kwara State Reiterates Free Common Entrance Policy for Public Schools

The Kwara State Government has once again confirmed that the Placement Examination, widely recognized as the Common Entrance Examination, will continue to be offered without charge to all eligible students. The state also issued a strong caution to public primary and junior secondary institutions against collecting any unauthorized payments from parents or guardians.

This directive was issued on Monday in Ilorin by Lawal Olohungbebe, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, according to a statement released on Tuesday by Peter Amogbonjaye, the Ministry's Press Secretary. Commissioner Olohungbebe emphasized that the state government is fully responsible for funding the examination, and no fees have been sanctioned for any participating pupil.

He urged school principals and headteachers to strictly adhere to this governmental mandate, ensuring that no unapproved charges are levied on parents or guardians under any circumstances during the examination process. Olohungbebe remarked, "Our schools have consistently demonstrated commitment to government policies. We expect every school leader to sustain that confidence by ensuring the Common Entrance Examination remains completely free for every eligible child."

The Commissioner further highlighted that the administration led by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq prioritizes transparency, accountability, and equitable access to educational opportunities. He reiterated, "The administration of His Excellency, Malam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq places a high premium on transparency, accountability, and equitable access to education."

Olohungbebe warned that "Any reported violations will be investigated and addressed appropriately in accordance with established regulations." He also called upon school administrators to uphold the highest standards of integrity throughout the examination period. The government, he affirmed, remains dedicated to conducting credible, fair, and malpractice-free assessments across the entire education system of the state. "We remain unwavering in our commitment to credible, fair and malpractice-free assessments across the state’s education system," he added.

Finally, Olohungbebe encouraged parents and guardians to report any demands for unauthorized payments via the Ministry’s dedicated C2C helpline, assuring them that all legitimate complaints would be given due attention.