Abia State Government Warns School Principals Against Charging Illegal Fees

The Abia State Government has warned school principals and headteachers of schools to stop charging illegal fees on students or risk being fired from work.

The alert is part of the measures the state has promised to maintain free and compulsory education in its public schools.

There has been increased alarm in recent months about unauthorized additional charges, particularly from guardians and parents preparing their wards for examinations.

Abia State Government acted quickly to dispel fears and that the people are reassured that no student should be requested to pay money without approval.

In a key breakthrough, Abia State Government declared free mandatory education for pupils in Primary One to Junior Secondary School Three from January 2025.

This action is targeted at reducing the economic burden of education on parents and making it possible for every child in the state to gain access to education, as envisaged by the provisions of the Child’s Rights Law of 2006.

Prince Okey Kanu, the state Information Commissioner, noted the importance of the policy, which is in harmony with the vision of the government to achieve universal education.

He warned parents and guardians that there would be consequences in the law for anyone who is found not to be taking their children to school, as enshrined in the Child’s Rights Law.

In a bid to address the underlying issue of illegal fee collections, the state government has authorized funds for the Ministry of Education to finance running costs for school heads.

This is aimed at easing school heads from financial burdens, hence reducing their reliance on extra fees from students. The funding is geared towards streamlining school operations and enabling schools to run without relying on illegal fee collections.

Commissioner Kanu conceded that previously some school heads would have engaged in illegal fee collection because of economic constraints.

However, with the new funding framework in place, school heads should now focus on the well-being of students and adhere to government regulations in every way.

In February 2024, Abia State Government gave a strong warning against extorting students with extra examination preparation fees. The Commissioner of Education, Professor Uche Eme Uche, stated the government’s strong opposition to such extortion and urged students and parents to report such cases to the Ministry of Education. He guaranteed the public that such a school head who broke such rules would have serious repercussions.

The crackdown on illegal collection of fees by the government is part of a larger campaign to ensure integrity and accountability in the education system of the state. The state is committed to ensuring a fair, safe, and accessible learning environment for all students.