Headteachers allegedly disobey Gov Abiodun’s order, collect school fees first day of resumption
In spite of the order by Gov Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State on Friday that the collection of levies or fees from students of the state’s public schools be suspended, some principals and headteachers on Monday reportedly collected money from their pupils.
Barely three days after Gov Abiodun ordered the suspension of the N3,700 Parents/Teachers Association levy, reports from parents across Ogun State have it that some schools started collecting levies first day of resumption. Some headteachers were also selling school uniforms to new pupils at exorbitant prices; a situation the Ogun State government frowns at. ALG Primary School Ilugun Asalu, Iyesi High School Ota, Abeokuta Grammar School Idi-Aba, African Church Grammar School Ita-Iyalode, Government Primary School Ajegunle Abalabi and Adiyan Community Primary School If were among the schools that allegedly ignored Gov Abiodun’s order it was gathered. Likewise, parents, who took their children to some schools for enrolment were said to have been asked to pay N10,500 for each child as registration fees which they said, it included tuition and PTA fee. It was also gathered that some headteachers were threatening parents and pupils not to disclose the amount of money they collected from them. Meanwhile, the state government has condemned the collection of levies in public schools in its entirety; adding that it had not authorised any principal or headteacher to sell uniforms to new or old pupils. Speaking on a radio programme, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kunle Somorin, advised parents and guardians to report erring principals to the Ministry of Education.