–As Parents threaten to stage protests
— Call for immediate removal of Principal
By John Chike
mo Stakeholders and parents of Students of the Federal Science and Technical College, Umuaka, Njaba local government area, Imo State, have condemned in strong terms the high level of extortion going on in the new College.
The FSTC Umuaka Stakeholders, in a statement dated October 24, 2023, and made available to Hero Express newspapers, described the all manner of levies they were asked to pay as unacceptable.
The statement which read in parts said, “We are a group of parents, teachers and friends of the Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC), Umuaka.
“We decry the monetization of the new Unity College in Imo State. A situation whereby parents are tasked to pay all manner of fees– work tools, ICT, G and C, hostel, etc, is not acceptable. Does it mean other Unity Schools in the North or West ask their Students to pay these outrageous fees and levies?”
The release further said, ” Just last Saturday, when the JSS1 and SS1 Students returned to School, JSS1 Students and their Parents were asked to pay almost N23, 000 for books. Also, all Students (SS1 and JSs1), were forced to pay N2, 500.00 for Guidance and Counseling text books, while N1,500. 00 was charged for a newly introduced Green and Yellow forms. Not done yet, the returning Students were made to pay N1000. 00 for ICT clearance, Ñ1000. 00 as hostel fee clearance, N500. 00 for trash bin clearance, in addition to items the School tasked all Students to compulsorily buy and bring to the School”.
Continuing, it said, “When some parents reported the matter, specifically to the N4,000. 00 for G and Ç clearance, to the Vice Principals (Admin, Academics and Students’ Affairs, Mr Ibezim, Mr Chris Teyver and Mrs Nwaka, respectively, they each denied knowledge of such “illegal” and forced sale of G and Ç books on parents”.
While calling for the immediate removal of the Principal of the College, they stated, “We shall commence protests at the School to press home for the removal of the Principal, Mr Jeremiah Joseph Naje, if this day robbery is not stopped and perpetrators made to face the law”
However, when contacted for reaction, the Principal, Mr Jeremiah Joseph, refused to talk, saying that he will react to the allegations after getting approval from Abuja.
