By Ovat Abeng
The Executive Chairman, Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Dr. Vera Nkiru Nwadinobi, has warned head teachers in all the government and public schools to stopped sabotaging Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s free education policy in the state.
Nwadinobi gave the warning while briefing Journalists at the ASUBEB boardroom Awka, on Wednesday, in reaction to some head teachers who were apprehended and defaulted for engaging in illegal collection of fees and levies from students despite government warning.
According to her, “I am compelled to address you today sequel to the disturbing incidents currently happening in some of our Primary and Junior Secondary Schools in Anambra State.
“All of you are probably aware that recently, the State Governor, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo, introduced a free and compulsory education policy in the state. The idea is to ensure that no child of school going age is deprived of the opportunity and benefits of basic education.
“This policy, since inception, has run smoothly in the state leading to increased and encouraging enrollment in the public schools and the elimination of out-of school syndrome. Most indigent parents and guardians have since heaved a sigh of relief as the burden of school fees and other sundry expenses placed on them have drastically reduced.
“To ensure a seamless transition from the past, the state government immediately commenced the payment of imprest and running costs of extra 50,000 to school heads for smooth running of schools and provision of requisite teaching tools, such as markers, chalks, exams fees and portals if any, etc.
“Also the state government has come up with the payment of 1500 per pupil in all the pure public schools so as to cover all manner of levies. PTA levies was abolished with the employment of 3115 teachers to add to the 5000 teachers recruited in 2022.
“Reports reaching us, however, indicate that some school heads in the state are sabotaging the efforts of the state government in this direction by introducing payment of certain unauthorized fees.
“Following these reports, the board recently set up an investigation team to go round some public schools in the state to determine the extent to which parents and guardians are being extorted in the guise of payment of running costs by some unscrupulous school heads.
“I must inform you that the reports we got from the investigation team are amazingly alarming and disturbing. For instance, in Awada Primary School 1-6, Obosi, it was gathered that the head teachers charged fees for extra lesson to all the pupils, ink fillers for markers, blue pens and red pens. In the schools mentioned, the head teachers allegedly got the PTA to agree that every learner will be paying the sum of 200 Naira for the cleaning of the school toilets. The 50,000 monthly running cost and imprest was supposed to cover this.
“Other items for which fees were allegedly paid for include: compiled questions and answers for verbal and quantitative subjects, certain novels, lesson fees, send-forth for retiring or transferred teachers, burial levy, Common Entrance Exam fees above the official approved amount of 2,900 , Exam portal and passport photos which was against the directive of the board. Other items for which fees were allegedly charged include; forms for learners, scratch cards, fees for marking of present at PTA meetings and a certain sum for absenteeism. There were also fees charged for tissue papers and soaps among others.
Consequently, the defaulting head teachers, include: Awada Primary School 1, Mrs Okoye Uju; Awada Primary School 2, Mrs Nwafor Eunice Nwanneka; Awada Primary School 3, Mrs Nwakaku patience Obioma; Awada Primary School 4, Mrs Aniwetalu Elizabeth Ekene; Awada Primary School 5, Mrs Odionu Gloria Nkolika; Awada Primary School 6, Mrs Muluako Augustine Chinwe are mandated to refund all monies collected from learners, hand over to the next ranking officer and step down from their positions as head teachers.
Last week, two head teachers in Awka North LGA were demoted from their positions and stepped down by the Board as a result of their negligence to duty and corrupt leadership. Many more stringent disciplinary measures await others if they do not willingly comply with the policy of Mr Governor on free and compulsory education in the state.
“Henceforth, we will not just demote but recommend outright dismissal from service for any headteacher or principal who goes contrary to the free education policy.
“We cannot continue to condone such irresponsible conduct by any teacher or school head to extort money from parents and guardians who are the ultimate beneficiaries of the free education and zero levies policy by the Solution Government in our dear state.”
The ASUBEB boss, urged other Anambra residents to join hands with the Board and the state government to fight corruption not only in the public schools but also the entire education system in the state.