Education
Abia state govt to sack school heads collecting illegal fees
Written By: Steve Oko
08 Apr 2025 02:03 PM
Umuahia, Abia - The Abia State Government has threatened to sack any school head or principal who sabotages its free education policy by charging illegal fees and levies.
This is as the State Government is set to unveil a new economic and business policy framework that will promote Made in Abia products.
Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, who read the riot act while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting, re-stated that “education is free from primary to junior secondary three” in all public schools across the state.
According to him, “students from SS1 to SS3, pay a reduced tuition fee of N3,300 only.”
He sternly warned principals and heads of schools “who surreptitiously collect school fees and levies despite the state government’s free education policy for primary schools and junior secondary school students” to brace up for heavy sanctions.
The Commissioner advised principals and school heads “who engage in these unwholesome acts to stop forthwith or be ready to face the full wrath of the law.”
He said:”By this warning, all offenders henceforth would face the full wrath of the law, including possibly losing their jobs.
“The state government has come up with a deliberate policy of providing imprest funds for routine expenses by principals and heads of schools. Consequently, those who engage in these dishonest and corrupt acts do not have any justifiable reasons to continue to do so.”
He disclosed that education consultants, the Education Reformation and Innovation Team (ERIT ), would be training about 2,200 teachers across the state as part of the ongoing reforms in the education sector.
According to him, the initiative is designed to enhance teaching quality and improve learning outcomes in public schools.
The Commissioner disclosed that the final part of the teachers’ recruitment exercise, which involved verifying certificates and conducting oral interviews, had been concluded.
He said that about 7,000 applicants who scored 45 per cent and above, along with 180 persons with disabilities, were shortlisted and interviewed.
This is as the State Government is set to unveil a new economic and business policy framework that will promote Made in Abia products.
Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, who read the riot act while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting, re-stated that “education is free from primary to junior secondary three” in all public schools across the state.
According to him, “students from SS1 to SS3, pay a reduced tuition fee of N3,300 only.”
He sternly warned principals and heads of schools “who surreptitiously collect school fees and levies despite the state government’s free education policy for primary schools and junior secondary school students” to brace up for heavy sanctions.
The Commissioner advised principals and school heads “who engage in these unwholesome acts to stop forthwith or be ready to face the full wrath of the law.”
He said:”By this warning, all offenders henceforth would face the full wrath of the law, including possibly losing their jobs.
“The state government has come up with a deliberate policy of providing imprest funds for routine expenses by principals and heads of schools. Consequently, those who engage in these dishonest and corrupt acts do not have any justifiable reasons to continue to do so.”
He disclosed that education consultants, the Education Reformation and Innovation Team (ERIT ), would be training about 2,200 teachers across the state as part of the ongoing reforms in the education sector.
According to him, the initiative is designed to enhance teaching quality and improve learning outcomes in public schools.
The Commissioner disclosed that the final part of the teachers’ recruitment exercise, which involved verifying certificates and conducting oral interviews, had been concluded.
He said that about 7,000 applicants who scored 45 per cent and above, along with 180 persons with disabilities, were shortlisted and interviewed.
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