The Ogun State Government has vowed to sanction any principal who collects any fee above the approved N19, 500 for secondary school students, and West Africa Examination Council examinations.
The government said the decision to outlaw any form of extortion is part of the ongoing reform agenda of the government to improve the quality of education without imposing any hardship on the parents.
The chairman, Ogun State Teaching Service Commissions, Evang. Olalekan Ifede made this known to journalists against a backdrop of allegations and protests by some secondary school students that a principal was collecting extra charges from its pupils.
The chairman said that no student should pay more than N19,500 for the May/June 2023 West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examination.
He said the government would not tolerate extra charges from any principal apart from the one approved by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
Ifede also solicited the support of the principals for the administration of governor Prince Dapo Abiodun, who he said is wholeheartedly committed to the welfare of teachers and the citizens.
The students of Olorunkole Grammar School, Kajola, Owode Obafemi Local Government, had alleged that the principal of the school collected the sum of N29,000 from them as waec fees contrary to government approval of N19,500.
Some of the students interviewed who pleaded anonymity alleged that the principal, Mrs. Olusola Odunmbaku forced them to pay extra charges to the WAEC fees, saying most parents were forced to withdraw their students from the school.
They (students) then called on the state government to intervene on this matter before it is too late, as the students said that their parents had to lend some money to meet up with the demand of the principal, saying this is act of gross misconduct and against the government direction of present administration.
But the principal, Mrs. Olusola Odunmbaku said that the amount (N29,000) was the official amount directed by the state government to be collect from the students, adding that the government directed that all students should endeavour to pay the amount.
“I have nothing to say about the amount to be collected by the school from the students, but if you need further information and clarification, you are free to approach the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology or better still, you can go to Tescom boss to ask,” Odunmbaku said
