From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Eight head teachers in the employ of the Anambra State Government have been demoted and ordered to hand over to their juniors for flouting the free education policy of the Soludo administration by extorting their students through the introduction of various unapproved fees, among other corrupt practices.
Executive Chairman of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Dr. Vera Nwadinobi, made the disclosure in Awka on Wednesday during a press briefing on the illegal collection of fees and levies by some school heads in the state.
Nwadinobi stated that the board was compelled to address the press due to the disturbing incidents currently happening in some Primary and Junior Secondary Schools in Anambra State.
She recalled that recently, the state Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, introduced a free and compulsory education policy in the state with the aim of ensuring that no child of school-going age is deprived of the opportunity and benefits of basic education.
She said the policy has run smoothly since its inception, leading to increased and encouraging enrolment in public schools and the elimination of the out-of-school syndrome, as most indigent parents and guardians have heaved a sigh of relief due to the drastic reduction in the burden of school fees and other sundry expenses.
She disclosed that to ensure a seamless transition from the past, the state government immediately commenced the payment of imprest and running costs of an additional 50,000 naira to school heads for the smooth running of schools and provision of requisite teaching tools, such as markers, chalk, exam fees, and portals, if applicable.
She also revealed that the state government introduced a payment of 1,500 naira per pupil in all public schools to cover all manner of levies, while PTA levies were abolished. Additionally, 3,115 teachers were employed to add to the 5,000 teachers recruited in 2022.
The ASUBEB chairman, however, regretted that despite all the efforts of the state government, reports indicated that some school heads were sabotaging the government’s efforts by introducing payment of certain unauthorised fees. This led the board to set up an investigation team to visit some public schools in the state to determine the extent of extortion from parents and guardians under the guise of payment for running costs by some unscrupulous school heads.
Field reports from the investigation team revealed that in Awada Primary School 1-6, Obosi, for instance, the head teachers charged fees for extra lessons, ink fillers for markers, and blue and red pens.
“In the schools mentioned, the head teachers allegedly got the PTA to agree that every learner would pay the sum of 200 naira for the cleaning of school toilets. The 50,000 naira monthly running cost and imprest were supposed to cover this,” she said.
“Other items for which fees were allegedly paid include compiled questions and answers for verbal and quantitative subjects, certain novels, lesson fees, send-off for retiring or transferred teachers, burial levies, Common Entrance Exam fees above the official approved amount of 2,900 naira, exam portals, and passport photos, which were against the directive of the board. Other items for which fees were allegedly charged include forms for learners, scratch cards, fees for marking attendance at PTA meetings, and a certain sum for absenteeism. There were also fees charged for tissue papers and soaps, among others.”
Consequently, she disclosed that the defaulting head teachers from Awada Primary School 1-6—Mrs. Okoye Uju, Mrs. Nwafor Eunice Nwanneka, Mrs. Nwakaku Patience Obioma, Mrs. Aniwetalu Elizabeth Ekene, Mrs. Odionu Gloria Nkolika, and Mrs. Muluako Augustine—have been ordered to step down from their positions as head teachers, hand over to the next-ranking officers, and refund all monies collected from learners.
She also disclosed that last week, two head teachers in Awka North LGA were demoted from their positions and stepped down by the board due to negligence and corrupt leadership. More stringent disciplinary measures await others if they do not willingly comply with the governor’s policy on free and compulsory education in the state.
“Henceforth, we will not just demote but recommend outright dismissal from service for any head teacher 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 of the Solution Government in our state,” she stated.