The Kogi Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Wemi Jones, has reiterated the government’s commitment to focus more on primary and secondary education development.

Mr Jones spoke on Friday during an unscheduled monitoring and supervision visit to the Government Science Secondary School (GSSS), Lokoja.

He said that the government would pay much attention to inspection, examination, supervision, and evaluation to ensure strict compliance with education laws in the state.

“Basic education appears to be the area where we have a lot of work to do, and we are going to focus very much on it.

“We are not going to shy away from relieving people of their jobs, redeploying principals, or even terminating their appointments if we find them wanting,” Mr Jones said.

The commissioner noted that the state had three universities: one polytechnic, two colleges of education, a college of nursing, a college of health sciences and a vocational institute (NKFI).

“It is from our secondary schools that we will get students admitted into those tertiary institutions, and we cannot ignore it.

“Our educational focus, especially for the secondary schools, is primarily on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM),” he said.

Mr Jones further encouraged the teachers to get a copy of the Kogi State Education Law 2020 and acquaint themselves with it to avoid being caught doing the wrong things as teachers.

Mr Jones warned that aiding and abetting exam malpractice by principals to the least staff would no longer be allowed as perpetrators would be prosecuted.

“No matter who you know or how highly placed you think you are in society, nobody will answer you if you are caught on the wrong side of the law,” the commissioner stated.

Mr Jones emphasised that Governor Ahmed Ododo remained committed to the developmental strides of the immediate past Governor Yahaya Bello.

The commissioner assured that teachers’ welfare would be properly catered for along with the infrastructure development.

The principal of Government Science Secondary School, Lokoja, Stephen Ajayi, said he was elated by the unscheduled visit, stating it was a form of assistance to help motivate the teachers to up their game.

Mr Ajayi commended the state government for the development of infrastructure in education and the recruitment of teachers.

(NAN)