RIVERS STATE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

PRESS RELEASE

The attention of the Rivers State Ministry of Education has been drawn to a False and Malicious allegation published in the Port Harcourt Telegraph newspaper, claiming that the results of students who wrote the last WAEC examination (WASSCE) in public schools in Rivers State have been withheld because the State Government has not met it's financial obligations for the students.

This is junk journalism, coming from the pit of hell, published by elements bent on painting the Government of Rivers State and the Ministry of Education black.

For the avoidance of doubts:

1. The Government of Rivers State long ago paid the WAEC examination fees for ALL students in the public schools in the State, as promised. And this was well before the examination started. WAEC will confirm this.

2. The WAEC has denied mass withholding of results of students in public schools in Rivers State. Inquiries made to WAEC shows that results have been published, including results of students in public schools in Rivers State.

3. There is no such thing as mass withholding of results of students who wrote the last WAEC examination in public schools in the State for failure of Rivers State Government to meet its financial obligations. In fact, candidates who wrote the last WAEC examination in public schools in the State are accessing their results, contrary to the false publication. Inquiries made to WAEC shows that network problem is the reason why some candidates nationwide may not have been able to access their results.

4. In fact, the WAEC will not allow any candidate to write it's examinations without registration which involves payment of registration fee. The authors of the publication just betrayed their stark ignorance on WAEC procedures. Pitiable.

5. The general public, parents and guardians and candidates are hereby advised to ignore the publication, as it is false and malicious; a FAKE NEWS. The authors of the publication, who are members of an opposition political party in the State, will have their day in court so others like them will learn not to spread FAKE NEWS.

Signed:

Prof Kaniye Ebeku
Honourable Commissioner for Education, Rivers State