Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Professor Kaniye Ebeku, has warned heads of public schools and staff against the collection of illegal fees.
In recent times, reports have been rife about some public schools charging illegal fees for fresh students in the state.
However, Ebeku, reminding them that the state government’s ban on the collection of school charges or fees for whatever purpose is still in force, warned that no principal or staff is authorised to collect charges for the making of school uniforms or for admission or any other purpose whatsoever.
Ebeku, who gave the warning during a routine monitoring of schools in the state capital on Wednesday, said the government of Rivers State has zero tolerance for extortion, and that anyone caught will face appropriate sanctions.
Addressing some parents and students in the schools visited, Ebeku noted that admissions into public primary and secondary schools in the state is free.
He explained that any school head requesting for admission fees is acting illegally, and that parents should not hesitate to report such school heads to the ministry.
He reiterated that the abolition of all forms of fees in public schools subsists, therefore, all school heads and staff under investigation will be duly disciplined if found culpable.
Ebeku however enjoined the public to collaborate with the Ministry of Education by providing credible information leading to the clampdown of school heads collecting fees in their various schools.
