Ogun warns school heads against fee collection

The Ogun State government has again strongly warned that no fee should be demanded from any student in public primary and secondary schools in the state as they are totaly free.

Mr John Olusegun Odubela, the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology in a statement said the recent suspension of two head teachers and a principal by the government was “to reaffirm the zero tolerance of the present administration in Ogun State for imposition and collection of illegal fees by principals and head teachers in our public and primary schools.”

According to the commisioner, “for the avoidance of doubt, no school head is allowed to collect any form of fee from pupils or students to the extent of sending children out of school on that account. The Parent’s Teachers Associations (PTA) fees are voluntary and should be left for the PTA’s which is mandated to administer such fees.

“While the present administration appreciates parents and guardians’ efforts to provide uniform for their wards/children, government would, however, continue to provide suitable atmosphere for learning through provision of instructional materials, teaching aids, running cost to schools and regular payment of salaries and other emoluments”,Odubela stated.

The commissioner added “school heads are therefore, warned to desist from all acts that are inimical to the realisation of the objective of government to provide free and qualitative education.”