Anambra government sanctions two principals for illegal school fees

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By Sunny A. David, Awka

The Anambra State Government has taken disciplinary action against two secondary school principals for violating the State’s free education policy by collecting illegal levies from students.

The affected officials are Mrs. Cecilia Okeke of Community Secondary School, Awkuzu, and Mrs. Patricia Ezeabiakwa of Community Secondary School, Igbakwu. They were directed to step aside from their positions following unannounced inspections carried out by the Chairman of the Post Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC), Professor Nkechi Ikediugwu.

During the visits, Professor Ikediugwu discovered that newly admitted students at Community Secondary School, Awkuzu, were being charged fees ranging from ₦10,000 to ₦40,000 by the school management and some teachers, in clear violation of the State’s free education policy.

Similar illegal collections were also uncovered at Community Secondary School, Igbakwu, where students were reportedly extorted under various pretexts.

As a result, the PPSSC Chairman ordered the immediate demotion of the two principals and instructed them to hand over administrative duties to their respective vice principals.

She further directed that all monies illegally collected be fully refunded to affected students within seven days, with evidence of payment submitted to the PPSSC Headquarters in Awka.

Teachers implicated in the act have been summoned to appear before the commission on Monday, December 15, where they will receive query letters and face possible disciplinary measures, including suspension.

Professor Ikediugwu reiterated that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration has made education completely free from nursery to senior secondary school, warning that any principal or teacher who collects fees from students would be treated as a saboteur.

She noted that repeated warnings against illegal levies have continued to be ignored by some school officials.

She also announced the establishment of a special monitoring team that will conduct regular surprise inspections of schools across the State beginning next term to ensure strict compliance with government policy.

Efforts to reach the affected principals for comments were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report, as they were said to have gone into hiding.