Anambra Cracks Down On Illegal School Fees As Two Principals Face Sanctions
Anambra State’s free education policy has come under renewed scrutiny as the government moves decisively to curb illegal levies in public schools.
The State Government has sanctioned two secondary school principals for collecting unauthorised fees from students, in violation of the policy that guarantees free education from nursery to senior secondary level.
The affected principals are Mrs Cecilia Okeke of Community Secondary School, Awkuzu, and Mrs Patricia Ezeabiakwa of Community Secondary School, Igbakwu.
They were ordered to step aside following surprise inspections by the Chairman of the Post Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC), Professor Nkechi Ikediugwu.
During the inspections, newly admitted students at the Awkuzu school were found to have been charged between ₦10,000 and ₦40,000, while similar illegal collections were uncovered at the Igbakwu school under various pretexts.
Professor Ikediugwu directed the immediate demotion of the principals and ordered them to hand over to their vice principals.
She also mandated that all illegally collected fees be refunded to students within seven days, with proof submitted to the PPSSC headquarters in Awka.
Teachers linked to the illegal collections have been summoned and may face disciplinary action, including suspension.
The PPSSC chairman warned that any school official who violates the free education policy would be treated as a saboteur, adding that a special monitoring team will begin regular surprise inspections across the state from next term.
Efforts to get comments from the affected principals were unsuccessful, as they were reportedly unavailable at the time of filing this report.
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