From Habiba Ibrahim-Sam
BENIN CITY
The Edo State Government has warned head teachers in the state public schools against extortion through imposing illegal levies on students.
The commissioner for education, Dr. Joan Oviavwe, gave the warning in Benin recently during the State Executive Council meeting.
Oviavwe stated, “The Ministry of Education has been mandated that on no condition should any child be driven out of school for their inability to pay whatever fees. The EXCO further reiterated, particularly the Chairman-in-Council, His Excellency, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, that public education in Edo remains free and compulsory.”
She noted that public schools in the state are free and compulsory, warning that defaulting head teachers will be prosecuted accordingly.
“The Ministry has therefore been mandated to go back and review the current levies for school fees and other auxiliary costs that school heads are currently charging students and ensure that we reduce it to the barest minimum and let our school heads, including headmasters and principals, know that after this week of resumptions any school head that is found to be extorting parents will not only face disciplinary actions in line with civil service rules but will also be prosecuted.
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