Ekiti commissioner for education, Bimpe Aderiye, said the state government had spent N546.90 million as 2024 West Africa Examination Council/ Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC/SSCE) fees.

Ms Aderiye said this in a statement made available to journalists on Monday in Ado-Ekiti.

She said that the sum represented the administrative expenses of all the 16,269 SSS 3 students in public secondary schools in the state registered for the examination.

She said that no public secondary school in the state was, therefore, authorised to collect any WAEC registration fee.

The commissioner warned that it would be an act of sabotage for officials of any of the public schools in the state to demand any fee in respect of the examination.

She cautioned parents and guardians against paying unauthorised fees, noting that such acts undermined the government’s policy and impaired efforts to boost the socioeconomic status of the people.

Ms Aderiye reiterated the state government’s commitment to improving the education sector and assured that no stone would be left unturned toward achieving the desired goal.

She advised all stakeholders to report any demand for the 2024 unauthorised fees to her office or those of permanent secretaries of education or the Teaching Service Commission.

(NAN)